What fault is required for publication?

• A. Some fault with publication
• B. Strict liability
• C. No fault if published to one person
• D. Absolute privilege covers all statements

Answer: (A)

In defamation, publication of a false statement about someone to a third party requires some fault by the publisher. There isn’t strict liability for defamation—the publisher isn’t automatically liable simply for disseminating a statement; the plaintiff must show at least fault in the act of publication. The level of fault varies by context (negligence for private individuals, actual malice for public figures), but the core idea is that fault must exist in the publication itself. Absolute privilege applies only in narrow settings and does not blanket all statements. Publishing to one person can still be defamatory if the statement is false and published with fault. Therefore, some fault with publication is the correct concept.