LONDON (AP) — Britain's government is unveiling an overhaul of libel laws to guard against "libel tourism" — when foreigners bring cases to U.K. courts in hopes of a more favorable judgment than they might get in their home countries.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw announced the proposals Tuesday.
Britain’s libel laws are considered friendlier toward plaintiffs.
Libel laws in the U.S. generally require plaintiffs to prove a published article was both false and written maliciously. In Britain, the burden of proof falls on the defendant to demonstrate what it published was true.
Straw told the BBC that the new measures will extend the defense for fair comment and restrict court costs that have overwhelmed smaller publications.
