(1) This section applies to a person who has brought defamation proceedings for damages, whether in this jurisdiction or elsewhere, against a person (a previous defendant ) in relation to the publication of a matter.
(2) The person may not bring further defamation proceedings for damages against a previous defendant or an associate of a previous defendant in relation to the same or any other publication of the same or like matter, except with the leave of the court in which the further proceedings are to be brought.
(3) A person is an associate of a previous defendant if, at the time of the publication to which the previous defamation proceedings related, the person was—
(a) an employee of the defendant; or
(b) a person publishing matter as a contractor of the defendant; or
(c) an associated entity of the defendant (or an employee or contractor of the associated entity).