JK Rowling does not mess around
(media.kotakuinaction2.win)
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The "public figure" rule is fucked, because now simply being mentioned on the mainstream news is "being a public figure."
Correct, but there's plenty of layers of protection here, even if she wasn't a public figure. Suing someone for calling you 'literally Hitler' is retarded, because it's obviously not factual, or intended to be taken as such. The fact that it's done in an obviously joking manner on top of that...this isn't actionable in any way, even if she wasn't a public figure.
Some people cheered it on the first time, I never did. Rowling has to stop being a bitch and sicing lawyers on people without any legal merit.
In Sweden you cannot slander anyone, even if it is true.
Well, if it's true, it's not slander. Do you mean you can't publicly insult anyone?
Slander/libel is defined as damaging someone's reputation in the law, doesn't matter if it is true or not.
Most people don't sue for it though as proving damages is exceedingly hard, even in high profile cases damages only amount to about $5000.
It's a law that is generally ignored by everyone because of this.
Here's an article about the most recent high profile case where the party leader of the Christian Democrats had to pay about $6000 in damages.
https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/6zrzGW/ebba-busch-erkanner-grovt-fortal--far-60-dagsboter
Well, shitty that they twist the dictionary definition of slander, but good that the damages are so small that no one bothers to sue I guess.
In the US if it's factual true or a personal opinion, the speech is protected. Reputational damage only matters if it's a lie.