A. For the purposes of this section only, a "foreign defamation judgment" shall mean any judgment for a cause of action equivalent or fundamentally similar to an action for libel or slander that is rendered by a court or tribunal outside the United States or its territories or possessions. This section shall not apply to any judgment for defamation, slander or libel rendered by a federal court or a court or tribunal in this or any other state of the United States, an American Indian tribe recognized by the United States, or one of the United States territories or possessions.
§ 718A.Foreign Defamation Judgments
Chapter 12: Judgment · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 718A bars Oklahoma courts from recognizing or enforcing a foreign defamation judgment unless the party seeking it proves the foreign law offered the same or greater free-speech and free-press protection as the U.S. and Oklahoma Constitutions, and gives Oklahoma courts jurisdiction to declare such judgments unenforceable.
Full Text of § 718A
B. In addition to any other defenses that may exist, no foreign defamation judgment shall be recognized or enforced if:
1. It is determined by a court of this state that the judgment was rendered by a judicial system that does not provide impartial tribunals or procedures substantially compatible with the requirements of due process of law applicable to courts of this state;
2. The court or tribunal issuing the foreign defamation judgment did not have personal jurisdiction over the defendant in accordance with the principles applicable under Oklahoma law; or
3. The court or tribunal issuing the foreign defamation judgment did not have subject matter jurisdiction over the action.
C. A foreign defamation judgment shall not be recognized by any court of this state until it is established by a preponderance of the evidence that the defamation, libel or slander law applied in the foreign defamation court's jurisdiction provides the same or higher protection for freedom of speech and press as would be provided under both the United States and Oklahoma Constitutions. If it is determined that the law in the foreign defamation judgment's jurisdiction provides the same or greater protection, then the court may proceed to consider if the judgment shall be recognized as a foreign judgment. If it is determined that the law in the foreign defamation judgment's jurisdiction does not provide the same or greater protection, or if no finding is made on this point, then the court shall not recognize or enforce the foreign defamation judgment and the judgment shall be void.
D. For the purpose of rendering declaratory relief with respect to a person's liability for a foreign defamation judgment and determining whether the foreign defamation judgment should be deemed nonrecognizable, this state's courts have personal jurisdiction over any person who obtains a foreign defamation judgment against any person who:
1. Is a resident of this state;
2. Is a person or entity amenable to the jurisdiction of this state;
3. Has assets in this state; or
4. May have to take action in this state to comply with the foreign defamation judgment.
E. This section shall apply to foreign defamation judgments filed for enforcement on or after November 1, 2013.
Amendment History
Added by Laws 2013, c. 272, s. 2, eff. 11/1/2013.
Plain-English Summary
A “foreign defamation judgment” under this section means a libel or slander-type judgment from a court or tribunal outside the United States and its territories — it doesn't reach judgments from federal courts, other U.S. states, recognized tribes, or U.S. territories. Oklahoma courts can't recognize or enforce one unless, on top of whatever other defenses might apply, the judgment survives three jurisdictional checks: the foreign judicial system provided impartial tribunals and due-process-compatible procedures, the foreign court had personal jurisdiction over the defendant under Oklahoma's own jurisdictional principles, and the foreign court had subject matter jurisdiction.
Even clearing those hurdles isn't enough. The party seeking recognition also has to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the foreign jurisdiction's defamation law gives the same or greater protection for freedom of speech and the press as both the U.S. and Oklahoma Constitutions. Fail that showing, or leave the question unresolved, and the judgment is void and unenforceable in Oklahoma. The section also gives Oklahoma courts personal jurisdiction, for declaratory relief on this exact question, over anyone who obtained a foreign defamation judgment against a person who lives in the state, is otherwise subject to its jurisdiction, has assets here, or would have to act here to comply with the judgment — and it applies to judgments filed for enforcement here on or after November 1, 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone enforce a foreign libel judgment against me in an Oklahoma court?
Only if they prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the foreign country's defamation law provides the same or greater protection for free speech and press as both the U.S. and Oklahoma Constitutions, on top of meeting the jurisdictional requirements the section sets out.
Does this section cover defamation judgments from other U.S. states?
No, it applies only to judgments from courts or tribunals outside the United States and its territories, not to judgments from federal courts, other states, recognized tribes, or U.S. territories.
What happens if no one proves the foreign law meets the free-speech standard?
The judgment is not recognized, and it's treated as void, whether the court finds the foreign law insufficient or makes no finding on the question at all.
Can I get an Oklahoma court to declare a foreign defamation judgment unenforceable against me?
Yes, if you're a resident of the state, subject to its jurisdiction, have assets here, or would have to act here to comply, Oklahoma courts have personal jurisdiction over the person who obtained the judgment for declaratory relief on that question.
Does this section apply to older foreign defamation judgments?
It applies to foreign defamation judgments filed for enforcement in Oklahoma on or after November 1, 2013.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: Oklahoma foreign defamation judgment12 O.S. § 718Aforeign libel judgment enforcement Oklahomafree speech protection foreign judgment Oklahoma