And if they don't pay up?
Re:Thoughtcrime
by JupiterMoon on Monday May 18, 2015 @12:20PM
(#9565259)
Well this would be a debt from the person who has defamed you to you (and potentially a debt to the state for their share of the court costs).
I'm not massively familiar with what happens when someone doesn't pay a debt. As I understand it though. A civil case is heard, bailiff's arrive at the debtors property and their possessions are re-posed until the debt is cleared. These remain civil proceedings not criminal.
Is libel not a civil offence? I.e. the court case is person vs person not state vs person. You confront the person lying in court and if on the balance of probabilities they can't demonstrate what they said to be true then they pay you compensation (plus costs). No one goes to jail, no fines are levied. The government's role is to provide a judge (and potential jury) and court room.