Paul Blay wrote:
> "necoandjeff" <spam@schrepfer.com> wrote ...
> 
>> Eric Takabayashi wrote:
>>
>>> Ryan Ginstrom wrote:
>>>
>>>> Maybe those in our midst with a knowledge of Japanese law can clear
>>>> this up, but I believe that in Japan, damaging public statements are
>>>> subject to defamation (名誉毀損) laws, even if they are true. What
>>>> matters is if the "victim's" public standing was damaged, whether
>>>> that standing was deserved or not.
>>>
>>>
>>> You will recall it was Ernest the lawyer a while ago, claiming that x
>>> was not libel or slander if it was true.
>>
>>
>> Under U.S. law, truth is an absolute defense to defamation.
> 
> 
> So, for those of us listening in text, was 'U.S.' stressed in that 
> sentence?

No, it was not. As Jeff's internet lawyer, I offer that he was
explaining the reasoning behind Ernest the lawyer's claim that "x was
not libel or slander if it was true".

Since neither Japan nor any other country has the freedom of speech that
the US does, the defense of truthfulness may not be available.

- Kevin