The Regional Court of Lübeck has made an exciting decision for contract law in the digital age. It ruled that the inclusion of general terms and conditions (GTC) in a contract can be effective if they are made accessible via a QR code that links to a website with the GTC. This ruling has significant implications, particularly for companies in the e-commerce, digital services and other online business models, as it opens the door to innovative and efficient ways of drafting contracts.
The court’s decision reflects the increasing integration of digital technologies into everyday life and the need to adapt the legal framework accordingly. In a world where digital interactions are becoming increasingly important, this ruling sets an important precedent for the way in which legal information and contractual terms can be communicated and incorporated.
Background of the judgment
The underlying case concerned the question of whether a customer effectively incorporates a company’s terms and conditions into the contract by scanning a QR code that refers to the company’s terms and conditions. The QR code was presented in a physical context, for example on a contract form or an information sheet, and the customer was able to view the terms and conditions by scanning the code. This process represents a modern form of providing contractual terms and conditions that is becoming increasingly established in the digital world. The central legal issue in this case was whether such a mechanism meets the requirements for the effective inclusion of general terms and conditions under German law. In particular, it was examined whether the customer was able to take note of the GTC in a reasonable and comprehensible manner by scanning the QR code and whether this process meets the requirements for conscious and unambiguous consent to the GTC. The court’s decision in this case points the way forward for the use of digital technologies in legal transactions and represents an important step in the adaptation of contract law to digital communication and information dissemination.
Legal assessment
The judgment of the Regional Court of Lübeck represents a factual examination of the question of the inclusion of general terms and conditions (GTC) via QR codes. From a legal point of view, the court recognizes that scanning a QR code that links to terms and conditions can be a legally permissible method of taking note of these terms and conditions. This reflects an adaptation of contract law to common digital means of communication, whereby the QR code essentially functions as a coded link. In practice, this ruling implies that companies can use digital technologies to design their contractual processes, taking into account the legal requirements. It emphasizes the importance that the GTC must be clearly and unambiguously accessible to the customer and that the customer is sufficiently informed of the possibility of retrieving the GTC. The ruling shows that contract law takes modern technologies into account and adapts to digital communication channels. It could serve as a reference in future cases, but assumes that the accessibility and visibility of the GTC are guaranteed. Overall, the ruling contributes to the legal discussion on how legal frameworks should be designed in an increasingly digitalized world.
