ACTIONS AGAINST BROADCASTING STATIONS FOR DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS

Act 221 of 1951

AN ACT relating to actions for damages against the owners, licensees or operators of a radio broadcasting station or network of stations, for defamatory statements.


History: 1951, Act 221, Eff. Sept. 28, 1951




The People of the State of Michigan enact:


484.331 Actions for damages against owners, operators or licensees of radio broadcasting stations for defamatory statements.

Sec. 1.

     The owner, licensee or operator of a visual or sound radio broadcasting station or network of stations, and the agents or employees of any such owner, licensee or operator, shall not be liable for any damages for any defamatory statement published or uttered in or as a part of a visual or sound radio broadcast, by one other than such owner, licensee or operator, or agent or employee thereof, unless it shall be alleged and proved by the complaining party that such owner, licensee, operator or such agent or employee has failed to exercise due care to prevent the publication or utterance of such statement in such broadcast.


History: 1951, Act 221, Eff. Sept. 28, 1951





484.332 Defamatory statement by or on behalf of candidate for public office; liability.

Sec. 2.

     The owner, licensee or operator, or the agents or employees of any such owner, licensee or operator of such a station or network of stations, shall not be liable for any damages for any defamatory statement uttered over the facilities of such station or network by or on behalf of any candidate for public office where such statement is not subject to censorship or control by reason of any federal statute or any ruling or order of the federal communications commission made pursuant thereto.


History: 1951, Act 221, Eff. Sept. 28, 1951




Rendered 8/15/2025 3:50 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov