Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881

44 & 45 Vict. c. 60 · Enacted 27 August 1881 · Extends to England, Wales and Northern Ireland

An Act to amend the Law of Newspaper Libel, and to provide for the Registration of Newspaper Proprietors.

[27th August 1881]C1 C2 C3 C4

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1: Functions of Board of Trade now exercisable concurrently by Secretary of State: S.I. 1970/1537, art. 2
C2: Preamble omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1894 (c. 56)
C3: This Act is not necessarily in the form in which it has effect in Northern Ireland
C4: Act modified (E.W.) (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 76, 82(2), Sch. 16 para. 1(2)

1Interpretation.
2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
4Inquiry by court of summary jurisdiction as to libel being for public benefit or being true.
5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
7Board of Trade may authorise registration of the names of only a portion of the proprietors of a newspaper. Repealed
8Register of newspaper proprietors to be established. Repealed
9Annual returns to be made. Repealed
10Penalty for omission to make annual returns. Repealed
11Power to party to make return. Repealed
12Penalty for wilful mis-representation in or omission from return. Repealed
13Registrar to enter returns in register. Repealed
14Fees payable for registrar’s services. Repealed
15Certified copy of material on register to be admissible in evidence Repealed
16Recovery of penalties and enforcement of orders. Repealed
17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
18Provisions as to registration of newspaper proprietors not to apply to newspaper belonging to joint stock company. Repealed
19Act not to extend to Scotland.
20Short title.
Schedule AReturn made pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
Schedule BReturn made pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881

1Interpretation.C1

In the construction of this Act, unless there is anything in the subject or context repugnant thereto, the several words and phrases herein-after mentioned shall have and include the meanings following; (that is to say,)

F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The word “newspaper” shall mean any paper containing public news, intelligence, or occurrences, or any remarks or observations therein printed for sale, and published in England or Ireland periodically, or in parts or numbers at intervals not exceeding twenty-six days between the publication of any two such papers, parts, or numbers.

Also any paper printed in order to be dispersed, and made public weekly or oftener, or at intervals not exceeding twenty-six days, containing only or principally advertisements.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The word “proprietor” shall mean and include as well the sole proprietor of any newspaper, as also in the case of a divided proprietorship the persons who, as partners or otherwise, represent and are responsible for any share or interest in the newspaper as between themselves and the persons in like manner representing or responsible for the other shares or interests therein, and no other person.

2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

4Inquiry by court of summary jurisdiction as to libel being for public benefit or being true.

A court of summary jurisdictionF1in Northern Ireland, upon the hearing of a charge against a proprietor, publisher, or editor, or any person responsible for the publication of a newspaper, for aF2blasphemous libel published therein, may receive evidence F3... as to any matter which under this or any other Act, or otherwise, might be given in evidence by way of defence by the person charged on his trial on indictment, and the court, if of opinion after hearing such evidence that there is a strong or probable presumption that the jury on the trial would acquit the person charged, may dismiss the case.