---
title: "Publication capture worksheet"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/defamation-and-media-law/us-publication-capture-worksheet"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a33-us-publication-capture-worksheet"
area_id: "A33"
kind: "checklist"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
task_ids: ["A33-A20260923-1", "A33-T1-R1"]
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-22"
---

# Publication capture worksheet

> A worksheet for recording a publication before a correction demand: the words, the URL, the time, and who could see it. It does not decide what the statements mean.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/defamation-and-media-law/us-publication-capture-worksheet  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

- Kind: Checklist. Steps or checks to work through and tick off.
- Practice area: [Defamation & Media Law](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/defamation-and-media-law.md)
- Jurisdictions: United States
- AI level: Yellow. You and the tool draft together, with you directing. You check every statement you rely on.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-22
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-22 against the 2 authorities it cites, for United States.

## When to use it

Use when a publication has to be captured before it changes. The lawyer chooses which sentences are the ones to challenge. The worksheet does not send a demand.

## Used for these tasks

- [Capture the publication with URL, time, audience and copies](https://ailawframework.com/practice/defamation-and-media-law/capture-the-publication-with-url-time-audience-and-copies.md)
- [List candidate imputations from the publication](https://ailawframework.com/practice/defamation-and-media-law/list-candidate-imputations-from-the-publication.md)

## How AI may be used

AI may fill the URL, time, and quoted words from a capture the lawyer supplies. The lawyer decides which statements are challenged and whether they are false.

**AI may:**

- Transcribe the words from the capture without smoothing them
- Record the URL, the time of capture, and the format
- List a statement the lawyer has not marked, so the lawyer can remove it

**AI must not:**

- Must not decide that a statement is false or defamatory
- Must not draft the publisher's correction
- Must not send a demand from this worksheet

**The lawyer checks:**

- The quote matches the saved copy
- The capture date is recorded separately from the publication date
- Statements the client will actually challenge are marked by the lawyer

## Authorities

- [Cal. Civ. Code § 48a(a) (a correction notice specifies the statements claimed to be libelous)](https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-civ/division-1/part-2/section-48a/)
- [Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(e) advisory note (capture is also a preservation step on the client's side)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/rule_37)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/defamation-and-media-law/us-publication-capture-worksheet and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*