從美國法『公眾人物理論』論我國民事侵害名譽權法之『公眾人物概念』

The Analysis of "Public Figure Concept" in Taiwanese Civil Defamation Law from U.S. "Public Figure Doctrine"

呂麗慧(Li-Hui Lu)

《東吳法律學報》 22卷3期 (2011/01) Pp. 51-93

https://doi.org/10.6416/SLR.201101.0051

摘要

「公眾人物概念」在我國民事侵害名譽權法的發展，係因言論自由的介入，自美國法「公眾人物理論」而來，惟我國與美國法的公眾人物或有本質上與文化上的差異，故我國「公眾人物概念」的建構與運用，應以我國法的角度思考與研究，方能允當。
尋上開目標，歸結本文四項研究重點如下：(1)解析比較美國法之「公眾人物理論」與其爭議，作為開啟我國民事侵害名譽權法「公眾人物概念」研究之前引。(2)肯定「公眾人物概念」，進而提出「四種關係」，從不同面向深入探究「公眾人物概念」之基礎理論。(3)突破美國法對公眾人物認定之困境，提出我國侵害名譽權法公眾人物類型之擬設。分析我國實務目前運作現況，指出其缺失併給予建議。
本文期望藉由上述研究，促使我國民事侵害名譽權法之「公眾人物概念」，不論在法理上與實務運作上，都有更清楚與確切的依循參考，俾使「公眾人物概念」在我國法之發展更臻妥適完備。

關鍵字

公眾人物概念 ； 公眾人物理論 ； 全面性公眾人物 ； 限制性公眾人物 ； 公務員 ； 侵害名譽權法 ； 言論自由 ； 名譽權 ； 真實惡意

並列摘要

”The public figure concept” was originally developed in ”the Public Figure Doctrine” in the American law of defamation. Arising out of the need to protect freedom of speech, ”the public figure concept” has been developed in Taiwanese Civil Defamation Law. Since the United States and Taiwan have different legal and cultural backgrounds in defining a public figure, it is important for Taiwanese Civil Defamation Law to see those differences and to develop its own ”public figure concept” suitable for Taiwanese law.
To accomplish this goal, this paper will: analyze the ”public figure concept” in the United States and its related controversial issues to inspire the development of ”the Taiwanese public figure concept;” admit the value of ”the public figure concept” and provide ”four relationships” to identify this concept in advance; overcome the difficulties of determining who is a public figure under the defamation law in the United States and create ”the public figure categories” for Taiwanese Civil Defamation law; and evaluate ”the public figure concept” applied in Taiwanese civil defamation cases and reveal the flaws that arise when courts apply this concept in such cases.
Through the explorations in this paper, it is expected that the development of ”the public figure concept” in Taiwanese defamation law will make greater progress and will provide a much clearer standard for courts to apply.

並列關鍵字

The Pubic Figure Concept ； The Public Figure Doctrine ； All-Purpose Public Figure ； Limited-Purpose Public Figure ； Public Official ； Defamation Law ； Freedom of Speech ； Individuals' Reputation Interests ； Actual Malice

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