Company registration, Other Legislation : Newspaper Libel and Registration Act

The Newspaper Libel and Registration Act of 1881 delineate all the formalities required to register a newspaper. To begin with it is essential to know which companies should go for registration. The proprietor(s) of a particular newspaper, which is published in “England or Wales”, have to register some details with the Registrar of Companies in Belfast or Cardiff. Registration is not needed for Companies, which are either incorporated under the Companies Act 2006 or any of its predecessors or is/will be published at intervals of more than 26 days or is/will be circulated free of charge.

How to register?

As per the Newspaper Libel and Registration Ac, the Form NLRI has to be completed and sent to the Registrar of Companies at Belfast or Cardiff along with a nominal registration fees. Generally the registration is done on the name of all the proprietors. But if the number of proprietors is more or all of them are not present in UK then the Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills authorizes registration on the name of one or more representative proprietors.

For registering a newspaper in this process, the applicant must write to the Registrar stating the reasons that’s making it inconvenient to register names of all the proprietors. The note should also mention that the proposed representatives are able enough to handle claims for libel and is strong enough to all kinds of management issue related to the newspaper.

Apart from the NLRI form, no other documents is required fir filing. There is only a return of Form NLRI, which is send to every newspaper before July, must be filed annually. A form has to be submitted in case of change in the name of the publication or the proprietors.

Nominal fees are charged for the registration purpose, which can be paid through postal orders or cheques.

What if the newspaper stops publication?

When a newspaper stops publication or is taken over by some other company, the Registrar has to be notified.

Do the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act protect the name of the newspaper?

When registration is done in accordance with the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act, the name of the publication is not protected. Plenty of registrations can be done on the same name. When the name is registered as a trademark then it gets protected.

 Venues where returns can be inspected:

Newspapers which are currently registered under this Act may get their returns inspected at :

Companies House,
Crown Way,
Cardiff
CF14 3UZ.

Or  at the following address if you give 2 days notice:

London Search Room,
Companies House,
21 Bloomsbury Street,
London
WC1B 3XD

Where to get guidance and forms?

Forms for registration can be collected from solicitors, accountants, law stationers and company formation agents. Contact information of the providers can be gathered from business phone directories.

How to send information to the Registrar?

Information to the registrar can be sent by courier or hand delivery at London, Cardiff or Edinburgh offices even on bank holidays or weekends or after normal office hours.

Documents can be delivered through post or document exchange as well. When you are sending documents they must be addressed to :

1) The Registrar of Companies
Companies House
Crown Way
Cardiff CF14 3UZ
DX33050 Cardiff 1
If your newspaper is incorporated in England and Wales

2) The Registrar of Companies
Companies House
4th Floor
Edinburgh Quay 2
139 Fountainbridge
Edinburgh EH3 9FF
LP - 4 Edinburgh 2 (Legal Post) or
DX ED235 Edinburgh 1
If you newspaper is incorporated in Scotland
3) The Registrar of Companies
1st Floor,
Waterfront Plaza
8 Laganbank Road
Belfast BT1 3BS
DX481 N.R. Belfast 1
If your newspaper is incorporated in Northern Ireland