The case of William Jones, author of The Dark Horse Inside Coolmore, and the allegation of defamation, has been reported today in The Irish Times. It is worth reading for any authors who are considering self publishing, in terms of making yourself aware of the responsibilities that exist for every publisher. This is particularly true for authors of memoirs, who are talking about real people and real events. The downside to defending a defamation action are considerable, and it is likely to be both stressful and potentially extremely expensive. If you are unsure, the best advice would be to get good legal advice. And even if you are sure, it’s still probably a good idea.