{"id":4510,"date":"2016-04-12T16:22:33","date_gmt":"2016-04-12T21:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/business-laws-and-regulations\/trade-libel.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T01:54:46","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T06:54:46","slug":"trade-libel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-laws-and-regulations\/trade-libel.html","title":{"rendered":"Trade Libel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Trade Libel<\/h1>\n
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\n By Jade Chounlamountry, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

A good reputation is significant for the success of a small business<\/a>. For this reason, negative comments from a customer or another company can be very detrimental to your business. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to file a trade libel claim against the person or business that made the comments about your business.<\/p>\r\n

Trade libel falls under the general umbrella of defamation<\/a>. It involves defamatory statements about the quality of a business’s services or products.<\/p>\r\n

This article provides a basic definition of defamation and reviews the elements a plaintiff must prove to win a trade libel lawsuit.<\/p>\r\n

What Is Defamation?<\/h2>\r\n

Defamation is a type of tort<\/a> that occurs when a person makes false statements that are damaging to a party’s reputation. Defamation can come in two forms: libel and slander. Generally, a defamatory statement is libel when written and slander when spoken.<\/p>\r\n

Whether it is libel or slander, there are essential elements that a plaintiff must show to be successful in a defamation claim:<\/p>\r\n