A Practice Note addressing common defenses and arguments that defendants may raise when seeking to dismiss or oppose defamation claims under New York law. This Note includes information on pleadings defects, defenses based on substantial truth, opinion, lack of publication, and the statute of limitations, absolute and qualified privileges, protections for media defendants, New York's Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (Anti-SLAPP) statute, and immunity under the federal Communications Decency Act (CDA).