libel chill

Ira Glasser's Op-Ed article and Anthony Lewis's column of Dec. 10 both address the possible chilling effect on the press raised by the potential cost of defending against a libel action by a public official.

1984 December 16, William Vandersteel, “Defrosting Libel Chill”, in New York Times, retrieved 29 May 2014

Black enjoys being rude about others—he has an endearing habit of writing sharp letters to his own papers—while reserving the right to sue those who are rude about him. Even Siklos is forced to refer to the "libel chill" around Black.

1996 February 3, Robert Winder, “Black humours”, in The Independent, UK, retrieved 29 May 2014

There's been a lot of talk recently about the problem of "libel chill" on British science writing, that people self-censor for fear they'd be sued (as Simon Singh was by British Chiropractic Association).

2010 September 13, Alice Bell, “A physicist, a chemist and a zoologist walk into a bar . . .”, in The Guardian, UK, retrieved 29 May 2014

It’s called “libel chill,” and it means too many writers are hesitating or even refraining from publishing work that goes against the grain for fear of being dragged through our trauma-inducing legal system.

2013 April 15, Dale Hamilton, “Libel chill leaving writers out in the cold”, in Guelph Mercury, Canada, retrieved 29 May 2014