Interesting. What else does Section 499 cover?
Section 499 also mentions that a justice of the peace or other officer holding an inquiry in open court preliminary to a trial is considered a court within the meaning of the section. It further states that expressing opinions in good faith about the conduct of witnesses, the merits of a case decided in court, and the conduct of persons involved is not defamation. The section also covers expressing opinions in good faith about the merits of any performance submitted to the judgment of the public.