Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has settled defamation action against News Life Media.

No compensation was paid to Mr Lehrmann as part of the out-of-court settlement, but News Life Media did agree to cover some of Mr Lehrmann's legal costs in the now-abandoned defamation proceedings.

Mr Lehrmann launched the action in the Federal Court over an interview journalist Samantha Maiden conducted with Brittany Higgins, during which Ms Higgins alleged she was raped at Parliament House.

Mr Lehrmann was later charged over the alleged rape, but his trial was abandoned due to juror misconduct.

He maintains his innocence, and there are no findings against him.

Earlier this year, Mr Lehrmann won the right to sue News Life Media and Maiden for defamation, even though his case was lodged outside the usual time limit.

In documents lodged with the court, Mr Lehrmann said he was clearly identifiable in the interview to politicians and staffers who knew himself and Ms Higgins, despite not being named.

On Tuesday, the Federal Court revealed the case had ended.

News.com.au, which published the original articles, has not taken down the two stories in question from its website, instead publishing an editor's note that reads:

"Bruce Lehrmann commenced defamation proceedings claiming that this article accused him of sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins.

"These proceedings were discontinued and settled on terms satisfactory to Mr Lehrmann and the publisher of this website.

"News.com.au notes that a criminal charge of sexual assault was brought against Mr Lehrmann and later dropped.

"News.com.au does not suggest that he was guilty of that charge."

News.com.au's editor-in-chief Lisa Muxworthy said no apology was issued to Mr Lehrmann or correction made to the stories, and no damages were paid to Mr Lehrmann.

Mr Lehrmann is still taking action against Network Ten over a similar interview and the ABC over a National Press Club address by Ms Higgins.

Before the action against News Life Media was discontinued, its lawyers said they would be relying on the defence of qualified privilege and seek to establish that the reporting was true, the same defences that Network Ten will rely on.

The ABC's defences will include that broadcasting Ms Higgins's Press Club address was a "fair report of proceedings of public concern".

Those cases are set for a hearing later in the year.