Case law

  • Case Details
    • National ID: link
    • Member State: Germany
    • Common Name:link
    • Decision type: Court decision in appeal
    • Decision date: 31/03/2016
    • Court: Frankfurt Higher Regional Court
    • Subject:
    • Plaintiff: Unknown
    • Defendant: Unknown
    • Keywords: information obligation, information requirements, misleading omissions, unfair commercial practices
  • Directive Articles
    Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, Chapter 2, Section 1, Article 7, 1.
  • Headnote
    An advertisement is misleading and thus an unfair commercial practice if it gives the impression that official certifications or quality/test results displayed in the ad are based on test reports accessible to the consumer when in fact they are not. The content of the information does not satisfy the requirements in order to enable the consumer to make an informed decision if the publication regarding the test results to which it refers is not a well-known publication that a consumer can easily find.
  • Facts
    The defendant advertises a product for horses on her website. The ad contains the following information: “Product of the Year 2011-2014. The most-recommended horse balm by German pharmacies." Immediately below this information was a link for "More information". The link was used to explain the recommendation of the German pharmacists and referred to the "Handbook for the recommendation in self-medication - medicines and health products of the year 2011/2012/2013/2014 (ISSN ...)" . The applicant considers that the advertising is misleading because it does not contain sufficient references.
  • Legal issue
    In the court's opinion, the advertising is misleading because it gives the impression that the advertised test result is based on a test report accessible to the consumer. The content of the notice does not satisfy the requirements in order to enable the consumer to make an informed decision, because the publication to which it refers is not a well-known magazine that a consumer can easily find. Additional information is therefore required, which should show as simple a reference as possible. The title of the publication is also not reproduced correctly.
  • Decision

    Is the content of the information provided in order to explain the proffered official certifications and quality/test marks sufficient to enable the consumer to make an informed decision?

    URL: http://www.online-und-recht.de/urteile/Umfang-der-Fundstellenangabe-bei-Werbung-mit-Testergebnissen-Oberlandesgericht-Frankfurt_aM-20160331/

    Full text: Full text

  • Related Cases

    No results available

  • Legal Literature

    No results available

  • Result
    The appeal was successful and the judgment was amended.