by Aude Desmartis The Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and the Civil Code of Québec give all persons a right to a reputation. Of course, where there is a right, there is also the possibility of infringing it. We are, of course, talking about defamation. What is defamation? Defamation, in Quebec law, is a civil law concept, meaning not criminal. Typically, to be held responsible under civil law, all three of the following elements must be found: a fault (a person has done something wrongful), a harm to another, and a causal link between the fault and the harm..