what is libel

Libel is a form of defamation that involves the publication of false statements that damage someone's reputation. It can be expressed through print, writing, pictures, signs, or any communication embodied in physical form. Unlike slander, which is a defamatory statement that is oral, libel specifically refers to written defamatory statements. It is a civil wrong (tort) and can be the basis of a lawsuit. To prove libel, a person must show that the published false statements were made with negligence. Opinions are not considered libel, and in the United States, each state has its own libel laws, although the basics of libel law are the same in every state