Libel

A person who writes or publishes false information about another person, a group of people, or an organization like a corporation that injures their reputation may be found guilty of libel. Frequently, such conduct is not protected by the First Amendment constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression. The U.S. judicial system has in a number of circumstances reinforced the notion that freedom of speech or the press is not absolute. Citizens, in exercising their freedoms under the Constitution, still hold a responsibility to not infringe on the rights of others, including the right of privacy and pursuit of happiness. The latter includes unjustly harming another's reputation such that one cannot freely function in society. When false statements causing injury are spoken rather than written, it is more commonly known as slander. Libel and slander are the two forms of defamation. If a person wishes to sue for defamation, they must petition under libel or slander laws, which are very similar.