Title and introductory text
Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881 1881 c. 60 An Act to amend the Law of Newspaper Libel, and to provide for the Registration of Newspaper Proprietors. [27th August 1881]
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Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
United Kingdom · statute
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In force since 2015-05-26, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-09. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
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Contents: 23 provisions
- Title and introductory text
- 1 Interpretation.
- 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 4 Inquiry by court of summary jurisdiction as to libel being for public benefit or being true.
- 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 7 Board of Trade may authorise registration of the names of only a portion of the proprietors of a newspaper.
- 8 Register of newspaper proprietors to be established.
- 9 Annual returns to be made.
- 10 Penalty for omission to make annual returns.
- 11 Power to party to make return.
- 12 Penalty for wilful mis-representation in or omission from return.
- 13 Registrar to enter returns in register.
- 14 Fees payable for registrar’s services.
- 15 Certified copy of material on register to be admissible in evidence
- 16 Recovery of penalties and enforcement of orders.
- 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 18 Provisions as to registration of newspaper proprietors not to apply to newspaper belonging to joint stock company.
- 19 Act not to extend to Scotland.
- 20 Short title.
- SCHEDULE A Return made pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
- SCHEDULE B Return made pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
Proposed changes to this act
No one has proposed a change to this act yet.
23 provisions
1 Interpretation.
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,) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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.
Propose a change2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change4 Inquiry by court of summary jurisdiction as to libel being for public benefit or being true.
A court of summary jurisdictionin 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 ablasphemous libel published therein, may receive evidence ... 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.
Propose a change5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change7 Board of Trade may authorise registration of the names of only a portion of the proprietors of a newspaper.
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Propose a change8 Register of newspaper proprietors to be established.
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Propose a change9 Annual returns to be made.
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Propose a change10 Penalty for omission to make annual returns.
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Propose a change11 Power to party to make return.
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Propose a change12 Penalty for wilful mis-representation in or omission from return.
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Propose a change13 Registrar to enter returns in register.
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Propose a change14 Fees payable for registrar’s services.
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Propose a change15 Certified copy of material on register to be admissible in evidence
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Propose a change16 Recovery of penalties and enforcement of orders.
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Propose a change17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change18 Provisions as to registration of newspaper proprietors not to apply to newspaper belonging to joint stock company.
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Propose a change19 Act not to extend to Scotland.
This Act shall not extend to Scotland.
Propose a change20 Short title.
This Act may for all purposes be cited as the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881.
Propose a changeSCHEDULE A Return made pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
Section 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a changeSCHEDULE B Return made pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
Section 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change