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President signs 'libel-tourism' bill

By The Associated Press
08.11.10

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Aug. 10 signed into law a bill protecting American authors, journalists and publishers from foreign libel judgments that undermine free speech.

Some countries with weak free-speech protections make it easy to sue foreigners for libel — a practice known as “libel tourism.”

Under the new law, H.R. 2765, U.S. federal courts would be prevented from recognizing or enforcing a foreign judgment for defamation that is inconsistent with freedom of speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Defendants in foreign cases can obtain a U.S. court order declaring that a foreign judgment would not be enforceable under American law.