Controversial Legal Issues in Cases of Dissemination of Information Discrediting Honor, Dignity and Business Reputation

The article examines the phenomenon of defamation, which is widespread both in fiction and in mass media in many countries around the world. Dissemination of negative information in relation to a person, which degrades the honor and dignity, or in relation to an organization, where its business reputation is diminished, is punishable by law in any civilized nation. Based on the Russian and foreign sources as well as legal and expert linguistic practice of the article author, the consequences of the dissemination of negative information, due to which the object of this information suffers, are analyzed. It also points out the need to distinguish between the concepts of “defamation” and “slander”.