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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to defamatory statements posted on Internet websites. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 73, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 73.0045 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 73.0045. LIABILITY OF AUTHOR OF WEBSITE POSTING. (a) |
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The author of a defamatory statement expressed on an Internet |
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website is subject to a libel |
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suit in the same manner as if the |
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author had published the defamatory statement in any other written |
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or graphic form. |
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(b) A party that prevails in a libel suit against the author |
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of a defamatory statement on an Internet website is entitled to an |
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order by the court requiring the author to: |
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(1) remove the posting from the Internet website; or |
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(2) request the Internet website to remove the |
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defamatory statement. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a libel suit commenced |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. A libel suit that |
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commenced before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law applicable to the libel suit immediately before the effective |
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date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |