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Defamation law in Czechia

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This article explores the codification of defamation in the Czech legal system. It is not written by lawyers, and does not replace a professional legal advice.

Relevant Wikidata terminology: natural person, defamation, defamation, libel, slander.

English defamation terminology

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First, let us clarify related terminology in English:

  • defamation
    • subclass: slander: spoken
    • subclass: libel: written
    • superclass: crime
    • superclass: tort

The above is likely to be an oversimplification.

Czech defamation law

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About Czech term pomluva, which is informally well translated as defamation:

  • In Wikidata, the term is here: defamation (Q20057997).
  • A semi-implicit definition of pomluva is here: [1]. This is 40/2009 Sb. Zákon trestní zákoník.
  • A pomluva (defamation) is a trestný čin (crime) since it is specified in trestní zákoník (penal code).
  • The penalty is 1 year or 2 years in prison (odnětí svobody), depending on the medium of publication of the defamatory statements.
  • The definition requires the statement made to be untrue.
  • The definition stays silent about the intent or belief of the author of the potentially defamatory statement.
  • The definition stays silent about demonstration or proof of truth or untruth of the statement; it merely requires the statement to be untrue.
  • The definition does not make it clear who has the burden of proof as for truth.
  • There is a contrasting term křivé obvinění (false accusation) that has a separate codification and penalty.
  • Another contrasting term is urážka na cti (insult of honor) that has a separate codification and penalty.
  • According to one source--but not explicitly the law--the object of defamation has to be a natural person in order for the title to apply.[1]
  • According to one source--but not explicitly the law--the person doing the defamation must have a certain intent.[1]

The case of Milan Knížák vs. David Černý

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Milan Knížák was vulgarly insulted by David Černý in a program of Czech Television. The judgment was that David Černý was to pay 100 000 CZK of compensation.[2] It is not perfectly clear which title was applied; perhaps urážka na cti. However, the maximum fine for urážka na cti seems to be 30 000 CZK, surpassed by the awarded 100 000 CZK.

The case of Tomio Okamura and the label Pitomio

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Japanese-Czech politician Tomio Okamura sued on account of having been labeled Pitomio, apparently from the Czech word pitomec.[3] Which law was invoked is not perfectly clear. It seems Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms was invoked, as part of constitution, but this would need a more careful (or qualified) look. The case seems to have gone through multiple courts; it could be worthwhile to find out about the decisions.

Further reading:

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nenechte si pomluvami zničit podnikání, zákon bude na vaší straně, Podnikatel.cz
  2. ↑ Ústavní soud nezasáhl do sporu o zadostiučinění za vulgární výrok Davida Černého o Milanu Knížákovi, protože obecné soudy zohlednily všechna ústavně relevantní kritéri, 21 Sep 2017, usoud.cz
  3. ↑ III. ÚS 2300/18 Česká republika Nález Ústavního soudu, usoud.cz

Further reading

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