---
title: O.C.G.A. § 51-5-3. What constitutes publication of libel.
collection: code
id: 51-5-3
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 51-5-3 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-5-3
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-5-3.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-5-3/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t51-(v39)-2017-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6b891965_0#page=549
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: TORTS / LIBEL AND SLANDER
---

# O.C.G.A. § 51-5-3. What constitutes publication of libel.

A libel is published as soon as it is communicated to any person other than the party libeled.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 2918; Code 1868, § 2925; Code 1873, § 2976; Code 1882, § 2976; Civil Code 1895, § 3834; Civil Code 1910, § 4430; Code 1933, § 105-705.

## Law Reviews

For comment on Walter v. Davidson, 214 Ga. 187, 104 S.E.2d 113 (1958), holding that defamatory statements made by a member of faculty before a chaplain, another member of faculty, are privileged as a result of their relationship as colleagues, see 21 Ga. B. J. 239 (1958). For comment on Arvey Corp. v. Peterson, 178 F. Supp. 132 (E.D. Pa. 1959), finding dictation of material to stenographer sufficient publication to support an action for libel, see 11 Mercer L. Rev. 381 (1960). For comment on Rives v. Atlanta Newspaper, Inc., Case No. 40617, Ga. App., July 16, 1964, rehearing denied, July 30, 1964, see 1 Ga. St. B. J. 236 (1964). For comment, ‘‘Room for Error Online: Revising Georgia’s Retraction Statute to Accommodate the Rise of Internet Media,’’ see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 923 (2012).