A supply manager for XYZ Inc.

Understanding Defamation Terms:

Libel: Written or published false statements that damage a person’s reputation.

Disparagement: False and injurious statements specifically about a business's goods or services.

Estoppel: A legal principle preventing someone from arguing something contrary to a claim made or implied by their previous actions or statements.

Slander: Spoken false statements that damage a person’s reputation.

Case Details:

XYZ’s competitor made a statement on a television program, implying written or published format.

The statement falsely claimed that XYZ knowingly used a defective component, harming their reputation.

Conclusion: Since the statement was made in a public and broadcast format, it falls under libel, which covers defamatory statements made in a written or published manner.

References:

Legal definitions and distinctions from Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute

Case law examples related to defamation, specifically libel