what is it called when someone makes damaging remarks to hurt someone
Defamation Law: The Basics. There is always a delicate balance between one person's right to freedom of speech and another's right to protect their good name. It is often difficult to know which personal remarks are proper and which run afoul of defamation law. The term defamation is an all-encompassing term that covers any statement that hurts someone's reputation. The government can't imprison someone for making a defamatory statement since it is not a crime.