The UK publication of Amanda Knox's memoir has been postponed indefinitely as ongoing legal action in the Meredith Kercher murder case has raised concerns that the book could fall foul of libel law.

The book, Waiting to be Heard, was due out in Britain on 9 May, shortly after its release in the US, Canada and Australia on 30 April.

The other releases will go ahead but HarperCollins UK said that following legal advice the book's publication in Britain had been postponed. It is thought likely the publishers will wait until the Kercher case has been definitively resolved before it reconsiders its decision.

A spokesperson said: "Due to our legal system, and relying upon advice from our counsel, HarperCollins UK will not publish a British edition of Waiting to Be Heard, by Amanda Knox, at this time."

Last month Italy's supreme court overturned the acquittals of Knox and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, ordering a re-run of their appeal against first-grade murder convictions. That is expected to begin later this year or early in 2014.

Knox and her parents also face charges of slander from the Italian police after the family claimed officers assaulted her during questioning.

It is not the first time this year that the publication of a high-profile book has been called off in Britain while going ahead in the US.

In January the UK publisher Transworld announced that an exposé of Scientology by Lawrence Wright, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief, would not be released as planned due to legal advice that some of the content was "not robust enough for the UK market".

Britain's libel laws have long been criticised by free speech advocates who argue that they lead to self-censorship by writers and publishers.