Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-04T19:36:50.828Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Liability for Online Services in Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

Thomas Hoeren

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

With a growing number of online services which aim to offer their product to a global audience, it becomes increasingly more important to keep informed about the rules and guidelines regulating this business within the countries of the targeted audience. The following article explains the main rules of liability for online services in Germany with special regard to the Telemedia Act.

Type
Developments
Information
German Law Journal , Volume 10 , Issue 5 , 01 May 2009 , pp. 561 - 584
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 by German Law Journal GbR 

References

1 BGBl. I, 1870.Google Scholar

2 See Bröhl, MMR 2001, 67.Google Scholar

3 Now BGH, MMR 2004, 166 with comments Hoeren. Google Scholar

4 OLG München, WRP 2001, 578; the decision was not accepted for review by the Federal Court of Justice. See also Schaefer/Rasch/Braun, ZUM 1998, 451; Waldenberger, MMR 1998, 124, 127. But see Spindler, CR 2001, 324.Google Scholar

5 LG Hamburg, MMR 2007, 450.Google Scholar

6 BGH, NJW 1978, 997.Google Scholar

7 See also Hopt, Festschrift für Fischer 1979, 237; Köndgen, JZ 1978, 389.Google Scholar

8 OLG Hamburg, CR 2003, 66 with comment Dieselhorst. But see LG Frankfurt a.M., CR 2000, 462; LG Mannheim, CR 1998, 306 – Arwis with comment Hackbarth. Google Scholar

9 LG Hamburg, MMR 2004, 195.Google Scholar

10 So expressly the BGH for network carriers and their liability in connection with telephone sex charges, MDR 2002, 264 = MMR 2002, 91 with comments Müller. Google Scholar

11 Order for withdrawal of prosecution of the Federal Attorney General, MMR 1998, 93 with critical comments Hoeren. Google Scholar

12 AG München, NJW 1998, 2836 (CompuServe) = MMR 1998, 429 with critical comments Sieber. Google Scholar

13 LG München, MMR 2000, 171.Google Scholar

14 See Engel, supplement for MMR 4/2003; Mankowski, MMR 2002, 277; Stadler, MMR 2002, 343 et seq. See also OVG Münster, MMR 2003, 348 with comment Spindler/Volkmann; VG Düsseldorf, MMR 2003, 205 with comment Stadler; VG Köln, MMR 2005, 399.Google Scholar

15 OLG Frankfurt, CR 2008, 242 See also LG Frankfurt, MMR 2008, 121; LG Frankfurt, MMR 2008, 344; LG Düsseldorf, MMR 2008, 349; LG Kiel, MMR 2008, 123. But see LG Köln, ZUM 2007, 872.Google Scholar

16 LG Kiel, MMR 2008, 123.Google Scholar

17 Schneider, MMR 1999, 571. See also Schneider, MMR 2004, 18; Schnabel, MMR 2008, 281.Google Scholar

18 BGH, MMR 2004, 166 in connection with § 5 Abs. 2 TDG. But see NJW 1997, 3193, 3198 = NJW 2002, 921, 925.Google Scholar

19 OLG Düsseldorf, CR 2006, 682.Google Scholar

20 BGHZ, 158, 236, 246 = CR 2004, 746 with comments Volkmann – Internet Versteigerung I.Google Scholar

21 BGH, CR 2007, 523 with comments Rössel – Internet Versteigerung II.Google Scholar

22 LG München I, MMR 2000, 434.Google Scholar

23 But see Tettenborn et al., supplement for K&R 12/2001, 1, 32 (arguing that this wording introduces liability for grossly negligible lack of knowledge).Google Scholar

24 See LG Hamburg, CR 1998, 565 = NJW-CoR 1998, 302. See also AG Berlin-Tiergarten, CR 1998, 111 with comments Vassilaki. Google Scholar

25 AG Berlin, CR 1998, 111.Google Scholar

26 See OLG München, ZUM 2001, 809 (illustrating that the links were combined with names, whereas the linked content contained defamation in terms of Section 186 StGB).Google Scholar

27 LG Hamburg, CR 1998, 565.Google Scholar

28 OLG Schleswig, K&R 2001, 220.Google Scholar

29 LG Braunschweig, CR 2001, 47.Google Scholar

30 OLG München, MMR 2002, 625.Google Scholar

31 OLG München, MMR 2002, 625. See also Dippelhofer, JurPC Web-Dok. 304/2002, www.jurpc.de/aufsatz/20020304.htm.Google Scholar

32 Stenzel, MMR 9/2006, V.Google Scholar

33 See also www.linksandlaw.de.Google Scholar

34 OLG Hamburg, CR 2003, 56.Google Scholar

35 BGH, MDR 2004, 1432 = CR 2004, 613 with comments Dietlein = GRUR 2004, 693 – Schöner Wetten. See also LG Deggendorf, CR 2005, 130.Google Scholar

36 BGH, NJW 2003, 3406. See also Hoeren, GRUR 2004, 1.Google Scholar

37 This decision falsely became known as the “Search-Engine” decision.Google Scholar

38 OLG Hamburg, MMR 2004, 822.Google Scholar

39 LG Berlin, MMR 2005, 718.Google Scholar

40 VG Berlin, MMR 2005, 63.Google Scholar

41 LG Stuttgart, CR 2005, 675. See also OLG Stuttgart, CR 2006, 542 with comments Kaufmann. Google Scholar

42 OLG München, MMR 2005, 768.Google Scholar

43 LG München I, CR 2005, 460 with comments Lejeune = MMR 2005, 385 with comments Hoeren. See also LG München I, MMR 2008, 192.Google Scholar

44 LG Hamburg, CR 2005, 534.Google Scholar

45 See Rath, Recht der Internet-Suchmaschinen, 275 et seq.Google Scholar

46 See Koch, CR 2004, 213, 215. See also Koch, K&R 2002, 120, 122.Google Scholar

47 See Köster/Jürgens, K&R 2006, 108 et seq. (arguing that for the liability of search engines for the list of results). See also Rath, Recht der Internet-Suchmaschinen, 308.Google Scholar

48 See also LG Frankenthal, CR 2006, 698 (arguing for the decision to be dependent on a balance of interests between those of the creator, to make be able to prevent publication without his consent, and those of the operator of the search engine to maintain the engine).Google Scholar

49 See Rath, Recht der Internet-Suchmaschinen, 367 et seq.Google Scholar

50 See Ernst, WRP 2004, 278. See also Ernst, ITRB 2005, 91; Ernst, MarkenR 2006, 57.Google Scholar

51 AG Bielefeld, CR 2006, 72. See also AG Charlottenburg, decision from 25.02.2005 – 234 C 264/04, available at www.suchmaschinen-und-recht.de/urteile/Amtsgericht-Charlottenburg-20050225.html.Google Scholar

52 OLG Hamburg, MMR 2007, 601 and MMR 2007, 315.Google Scholar

53 LG Berlin, CR 2005, 530 = MMR 2005, 324.Google Scholar

54 KG Berlin, MMR 2006, 393.Google Scholar

55 OLG Braunschweig, CR 2007, 177.Google Scholar

56 LG Düsseldorf, CR 2006, 205.Google Scholar

57 LG Hamburg, MMR 2005, 631.Google Scholar

58 LG Braunschweig, K&R 2006, 143.Google Scholar

59 See LG München, CR 2007, 467, 468 (discussing the admissibility of a use of brands and trademarks as an Adword).Google Scholar

60 LG Hamburg, MMR 2005, 629.Google Scholar

61 LG Hamburg, decision from 14.11.2003 – 312 O 887/03, www.jurawelt.de/aktuelles/nationales/8839.Google Scholar

62 LG München I, MMR 2004, 261.Google Scholar

63 LG Berlin, CR 2002, 371 with comments Leible/Sosnitza. Google Scholar

64 OLG Köln, CR 2007, 184.Google Scholar

65 LG Köln, CR 2001, 417.Google Scholar

66 See LG Hamburg, CR 2002, 919.Google Scholar

67 OLG Köln, MMR 2002, 110 with comments Hoeren = CR 2002, 50 with comments Wiebe = K&R 2002, 93 with comments Spindler 83. See also LG Düsseldorf, MMR 2003, 120 = TKMR 2003, 38 with comments Leupold. Google Scholar

68 BGH, MMR 2004, 668.Google Scholar

69 BGH, MMR 2007, 507 – Internetversteiegerung II (illustrating that the preliminary injunction is included).Google Scholar

70 See OLG Frankfurt a.M., MMR 2005, 458 (discussing the question of an offer in an auction brings about a commercial transaction).Google Scholar

71 BGH, MMR 2007, 507 – Internetversteigerung II. See also BGH, MMR 2007, 634 (discussing writings harmful to the young available on eBay).Google Scholar

72 BGH, MMR 2004, 668.Google Scholar

73 See LG Hamburg, MMR 2005, 326 with comments Rachlock. See also OLG Brandenburg, CR 2006, 124 (discussing infringements of naming rights).Google Scholar

74 OLG Frankfurt a.M., CR 2005, 655. See also LG Bonn, CR 2005, 602 (discussing infringements against the UWG); OLG Stuttgart, GRUR-RR 2007, 336.Google Scholar

75 OLG Koblenz, CR 2002, 280 = MMR 2002, 466 with comments Ernst/Vallendar. Google Scholar

76 See Hoeren/Eustergerling, MMR 2006, 132. See also Wimmers/Schulz, CR 2006, 754.Google Scholar

77 OLG München, MMR 2000, 577. See also OLG Stuttgart, MMR 2004, 38; LG München I, CR 2005, 532; AG Bonn, MMR 2004, 826 (for the field of the UWG); LG Hamburg, decision 15.3.2007 - 327 O 718/06.Google Scholar

78 KG Berlin, CR 2006, 778.Google Scholar

79 BGH, CR 2005, 510 = MMR 2005, 374 Literaturhaus.de.Google Scholar

80 OLG Hamburg, MMR 2005, 322.Google Scholar

81 LG Düsseldorf, MMR 2008, 254.Google Scholar

82 A domain exchange refers to the concept of making unused domain names available for purchase.Google Scholar

83 LG München I, MMR 2003, 483; AG Rostock, MMR 2003, 345.Google Scholar

84 OLG Düsseldorf, MMR 2006, 681.Google Scholar

85 LG Düsseldorf, MMR 2003, 61.Google Scholar

86 AG Leipzig, decision from 27.2.2003 – 02 C 8566/02.Google Scholar

87 LG Köln, CR 2004, 304.Google Scholar

88 LG Köln, MMR 2004 with comments Christiansen. See also Spieker, MMR 2005, 727.Google Scholar

89 AG Winsen/Luhe, CR 2005, 722.Google Scholar

90 LG Düsseldorf, CR 2006, 563.Google Scholar

91 LG Hamburg, AfP 2008, 414.Google Scholar

92 OLG Hamburg, MMR 2006, 754. See also LG Lepzig, MMR, 2005, 622. See generally Meyer, K&R 2006, 557; Schaefer, MMR 2005, 807.Google Scholar

93 LG Köln, CR 2006, 64. See also LG Berlin, MMR 2006, 118. But see LG Hamburg, CR 2006, 130.Google Scholar

94 OLG München, CR 2007, 389.Google Scholar

95 LG München I, MMR 2008, 422.Google Scholar

96 LG Hamburg, CR 2006, 780.Google Scholar

97 LG Hamburg, MMR 2006, 700. See also LG Frankfurt, MMR 2007, 675.Google Scholar

98 OLG Düsseldorf, MMR 2008, 256.Google Scholar

99 OLG Frankfurt, MMR 2008, 169. See also CR 2007, 394 (dismissing the connection owner's liability for acts by family members who are of full age).Google Scholar

100 OLG Hamburg, MMR 2006, 398.Google Scholar

101 OLG Düsseldorf, MMR 2008, 254. See also LG München I, MMR 2007, 453.Google Scholar

102 LG Düsseldorf, MMR 2008, 349.Google Scholar

103 LG München I, MMR 2008, 422.Google Scholar

104 Eco, MMR 2/2009, XXI.Google Scholar

105 Greve/Schärdel, ZRP 2009, 55.Google Scholar

106 Details can be obtained from this website: http://www.squaringthenet.org/en/exclusive-the-latest-olivennes-law-draft.Google Scholar