• Mehr als 3 Millionen Wörter Inhalt
  • |
  • info@itmedialaw.com
  • |
  • Tel: 03322 5078053
Rechtsanwalt Marian Härtel - ITMediaLaw

No products in the cart.

  • en English
  • de Deutsch
  • Informationen
    • Ideal partner
    • About lawyer Marian Härtel
    • Quick and flexible access
    • Principles as a lawyer
    • Why a lawyer and business consultant?
    • Focus areas of attorney Marian Härtel
      • Focus on start-ups
      • Investment advice
      • Corporate law
      • Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and Games
      • AI and SaaS
      • Streamers and influencers
      • Games and esports law
      • IT/IP Law
      • Law firm for GMBH,UG, GbR
      • Law firm for IT/IP and media law
    • The everyday life of an IT lawyer
    • How can I help clients?
    • Testimonials
    • Team: Saskia Härtel – WHO AM I?
    • Agile and lean law firm
    • Price overview
    • Various information
      • Terms
      • Privacy policy
      • Imprint
  • Services
    • Support and advice of agencies
    • Contract review and preparation
    • Games law consulting
    • Consulting for influencers and streamers
    • Advice in e-commerce
    • DLT and Blockchain consulting
    • Legal advice in corporate law: from incorporation to structuring
    • Legal compliance and expert opinions
    • Outsourcing – for companies or law firms
    • Booking as speaker
  • News
    • Gloss / Opinion
    • Law on the Internet
    • Online retail
    • Law and computer games
    • Law and Esport
    • Blockchain and web law
    • Data protection Law
    • Copyright
    • Labour law
    • Competition law
    • Corporate
    • EU law
    • Law on the protection of minors
    • Tax
    • Other
    • Internally
  • Podcast
    • ITMediaLaw Podcast
  • Knowledge base
    • Laws
    • Legal terms
    • Contract types
    • Clause types
    • Forms of financing
    • Legal means
    • Authorities
    • Company forms
    • Tax
    • Concepts
  • Videos
    • Information videos – about Marian Härtel
    • Videos – about me (Couch)
    • Blogpost – individual videos
    • Videos on services
    • Shorts
    • Podcast format
    • Third-party videos
    • Other videos
  • Contact
Kurzberatung
  • Informationen
    • Ideal partner
    • About lawyer Marian Härtel
    • Quick and flexible access
    • Principles as a lawyer
    • Why a lawyer and business consultant?
    • Focus areas of attorney Marian Härtel
      • Focus on start-ups
      • Investment advice
      • Corporate law
      • Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and Games
      • AI and SaaS
      • Streamers and influencers
      • Games and esports law
      • IT/IP Law
      • Law firm for GMBH,UG, GbR
      • Law firm for IT/IP and media law
    • The everyday life of an IT lawyer
    • How can I help clients?
    • Testimonials
    • Team: Saskia Härtel – WHO AM I?
    • Agile and lean law firm
    • Price overview
    • Various information
      • Terms
      • Privacy policy
      • Imprint
  • Services
    • Support and advice of agencies
    • Contract review and preparation
    • Games law consulting
    • Consulting for influencers and streamers
    • Advice in e-commerce
    • DLT and Blockchain consulting
    • Legal advice in corporate law: from incorporation to structuring
    • Legal compliance and expert opinions
    • Outsourcing – for companies or law firms
    • Booking as speaker
  • News
    • Gloss / Opinion
    • Law on the Internet
    • Online retail
    • Law and computer games
    • Law and Esport
    • Blockchain and web law
    • Data protection Law
    • Copyright
    • Labour law
    • Competition law
    • Corporate
    • EU law
    • Law on the protection of minors
    • Tax
    • Other
    • Internally
  • Podcast
    • ITMediaLaw Podcast
  • Knowledge base
    • Laws
    • Legal terms
    • Contract types
    • Clause types
    • Forms of financing
    • Legal means
    • Authorities
    • Company forms
    • Tax
    • Concepts
  • Videos
    • Information videos – about Marian Härtel
    • Videos – about me (Couch)
    • Blogpost – individual videos
    • Videos on services
    • Shorts
    • Podcast format
    • Third-party videos
    • Other videos
  • Contact
Rechtsanwalt Marian Härtel - ITMediaLaw

Cologne District Court considers online contract generator to be illegal

15. October 2019
in Law on the Internet
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
0
contract 1332817 1280

On 08.10.2019, the Regional Court of Cologne (file number 33 O 35/19) issued a landmark ruling for the assessment of legal tech offers to end-users (i.e. not to the legal profession). In it, the Regional Court of Cologne considers the “smartlaw” offer of a renowned publisher to supply legal-seekers “legal documents of legal quality” by computer as an inadmissible legal service and therefore as a violation of the Legal Services Act. The action was brought by the Hanseatic Bar Association of Hamburg, which thus pursues the protection of those seeking justice from unqualified legal services and thus, of course, the protection of the bar against unqualified competition.

In legal literature and politics, it is disputed whether and when legal tech contract generators violate the RDG. The Hanseatic Bar Association saw in the offer “smartlaw” of this provider the prototype of a product contrary to the RDG: the seekers are sold services for relatively small money, which the contract generator cannot offer at all; nevertheless, this service is presented in the advertising of the provider as a (better and cheaper) alternative to legal advice.

There is good reason why the RDG reserves the right to “act in specific foreign matters as soon as it requires a legal examination of the individual case”. Such a legal examination in individual cases is particularly necessary when compiling contractual rights and obligations in the context of contracts to be concluded. When drafting legally secure and interest-appropriate contracts, it is usually necessary, in cooperation with the client, to clarify the relevant facts and to examine whether the questions raised by the client on the drafting of the contract really make the most of it. This cannot be provided by a computer that asks different questions about the desired contract design in a question-and-answer system and then provides a contract compiled taking into account the answers. It cannot, in fact, question the value and veracity of the user’s answers, nor can he assess whether questions offered are not being asked in the interests of the user. In the decisive case, it was common ground that the computer did not have ‘artificial intelligence’ in that product, whatever that may be.

Therefore, as the Regional Court of Cologne now judges, such a “contract generator” must not be operated by companies that are not admitted to the bar or otherwise legitimate under the RDG. This also applies if the company writes in the GTC that it does not provide legal advice, but (only) a publishing product; for the clientele does not understand that it merely compiles its contract on its own on the basis of sample collections.

The judgment of the LG Köln also prohibited, as misleading, that the company states in the advertisement for the contract generator that it provides “legally secure contracts of legal quality” or “more individual and secure than any submission and cheaper than a lawyer”. This indicates that we are getting a similar quality of legal services as in the case of the legal profession, which is not right.

Marian Härtel
Author: Marian Härtel

Marian Härtel ist Rechtsanwalt und Fachanwalt für IT-Recht mit einer über 25-jährigen Erfahrung als Unternehmer und Berater in den Bereichen Games, E-Sport, Blockchain, SaaS und Künstliche Intelligenz. Seine Beratungsschwerpunkte umfassen neben dem IT-Recht insbesondere das Urheberrecht, Medienrecht sowie Wettbewerbsrecht. Er betreut schwerpunktmäßig Start-ups, Agenturen und Influencer, die er in strategischen Fragen, komplexen Vertragsangelegenheiten sowie bei Investitionsprojekten begleitet. Dabei zeichnet sich seine Beratung durch einen interdisziplinären Ansatz aus, der juristische Expertise und langjährige unternehmerische Erfahrung miteinander verbindet. Ziel seiner Tätigkeit ist stets, Mandanten praxisorientierte Lösungen anzubieten und rechtlich fundierte Unterstützung bei der Umsetzung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zu gewährleisten.

Tags: AGBArtificial intelligenceBeratungCologne Regional CourtComputerContract lawHamburgJudgmentsLawLawsuitserviceVerträge

Weitere spannende Blogposts

Sale of vouchers via the Internet is subject to VAT

Esport Association for the Promotion of Youth?
7. November 2022

TheMünster Tax Court has ruled that the sale of vouchers for leisure experiences via the Internet constitutes a taxable service...

Read moreDetails

LG Hamburg on Influencer Advertising and “Sponsored Content”

Brief reminder: Influencer as target of warning letters
24. May 2019

The problem of influencer sneaking advertising The District Court of Hamburg agrees with the rulings on influencers and sneaky advertising....

Read moreDetails

Co-Production Contracts in the Games Industry: A Guide for Developers

Co-Production Contracts in the Games Industry: A Guide for Developers
7. June 2023

Introduction The games industry is a dynamic and complex field that constantly offers new challenges and opportunities. One of these...

Read moreDetails

AI in startups: More than just text generators

ai generated g63ed67bf8 1280
2. October 2023

Last week it was a bit quieter here on the blog. The reason is that I was on the road...

Read moreDetails

AG Munich on the “expiry” of consent to send e-mails

1. March 2023

As a lawyer, one is always surprised at how sometimes certain legal topics cyclically resurface in courts. At least this...

Read moreDetails

Red, Red, Red blooms only the savings bank…

23. February 2023

After almost six years of litigation, the savings banks have prevailed against the Santander banking group at the Federal Court...

Read moreDetails

Legal Due Diligence: Your Guide to a Successful Startup Financing or Divestiture

Legal Due Diligence: Your Guide to a Successful Startup Financing or Divestiture
22. June 2023

Introduction As an attorney specializing in, among other things, startup financing, I have the opportunity to assist my clients in...

Read moreDetails

“Streamer or Influencer – Your Path to Success with a Lawyer on Your Side!”

29. June 2023

Introduction: In the modern world of social media, the business of influencers and streamers is thriving. From Instagram and TikTok...

Read moreDetails

“East German” is not bullying in the workplace

“East German” is not bullying in the workplace
7. November 2022

The disparagement of an employee because of his or her East German origin does not constitute discrimination within the meaning...

Read moreDetails
Eigentum an Software – Wem gehört eigentlich der Code?
Copyright

Eigentum an Software – Wem gehört eigentlich der Code?

14. July 2025

Während ich an meinem eigenen WordPress-Plugin code, taucht immer wieder eine Frage auf: Gehört mir diese Software wirklich? Im Alltagsverständnis...

Read moreDetails
Startup ohne Entwickler?

Startup ohne Entwickler?

8. July 2025
Keine stillschweigende AGB-Änderung – Schweigen gilt nicht als Zustimnung

Keine stillschweigende AGB-Änderung – Schweigen gilt nicht als Zustimnung

7. July 2025
So langsam nimmt der Shop Form an

So langsam nimmt der Shop Form an

3. July 2025
Dark Patterns: UX-Tricks im Visier von Gesetzgeber und Gerichten

Dark Patterns: UX-Tricks im Visier von Gesetzgeber und Gerichten

2. July 2025

Podcastfolge

Das Metaverse – Rechtliche Herausforderungen in virtuellen Welten

Das Metaverse – Rechtliche Herausforderungen in virtuellen Welten

25. September 2024

In dieser faszinierenden Episode tauchen wir tief in die rechtlichen Aspekte des Metaverse ein. Als Rechtsanwalt und Technik-Enthusiast beleuchte ich...

Read moreDetails
Der IT Media Law Podcast. Folge Nr. 1: Worum geht es hier eigentlich?

Der IT Media Law Podcast. Folge Nr. 1: Worum geht es hier eigentlich?

26. August 2024
eda7ba83 c559 4e68 8441 41159a0751f3

Blitzskalierung und rechtliche Herausforderungen: Der Balanceakt für Startups

20. April 2025
Legal challenges when implementing confidential computing: data protection and encryption in the cloud

Smart Contracts und Blockchain

22. December 2024
Der unkonventionelle Anwalt: Ein Nerd im Dienste des Rechts

Der unkonventionelle Anwalt: Ein Nerd im Dienste des Rechts

25. September 2024

Video

Mein transparente Abrechnung

Mein transparente Abrechnung

10. February 2025

In diesem Video rede ich ein wenig über transparente Abrechnung und wie ich kommuniziere, was es kostet, wenn man mit...

Read moreDetails
Faszination zwischen und Recht und Technologie

Faszination zwischen und Recht und Technologie

10. February 2025
Meine zwei größten Herausforderungen sind?

Meine zwei größten Herausforderungen sind?

10. February 2025
Was mich wirklich freut

Was mich wirklich freut

10. February 2025
Was ich an meinem Job liebe!

Was ich an meinem Job liebe!

10. February 2025
  • Privacy policy
  • Imprint
  • Contact
  • About lawyer Marian Härtel
Marian Härtel, Rathenaustr. 58a, 14612 Falkensee, info@itmedialaw.com

Marian Härtel - Rechtsanwalt für IT-Recht, Medienrecht und Startups, mit einem Fokus auf innovative Geschäftsmodelle, Games, KI und Finanzierungsberatung.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
  • Informationen
    • Ideal partner
    • About lawyer Marian Härtel
    • Quick and flexible access
    • Principles as a lawyer
    • Why a lawyer and business consultant?
    • Focus areas of attorney Marian Härtel
      • Focus on start-ups
      • Investment advice
      • Corporate law
      • Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and Games
      • AI and SaaS
      • Streamers and influencers
      • Games and esports law
      • IT/IP Law
      • Law firm for GMBH,UG, GbR
      • Law firm for IT/IP and media law
    • The everyday life of an IT lawyer
    • How can I help clients?
    • Testimonials
    • Team: Saskia Härtel – WHO AM I?
    • Agile and lean law firm
    • Price overview
    • Various information
      • Terms
      • Privacy policy
      • Imprint
  • Services
    • Support and advice of agencies
    • Contract review and preparation
    • Games law consulting
    • Consulting for influencers and streamers
    • Advice in e-commerce
    • DLT and Blockchain consulting
    • Legal advice in corporate law: from incorporation to structuring
    • Legal compliance and expert opinions
    • Outsourcing – for companies or law firms
    • Booking as speaker
  • News
    • Gloss / Opinion
    • Law on the Internet
    • Online retail
    • Law and computer games
    • Law and Esport
    • Blockchain and web law
    • Data protection Law
    • Copyright
    • Labour law
    • Competition law
    • Corporate
    • EU law
    • Law on the protection of minors
    • Tax
    • Other
    • Internally
  • Podcast
    • ITMediaLaw Podcast
  • Knowledge base
    • Laws
    • Legal terms
    • Contract types
    • Clause types
    • Forms of financing
    • Legal means
    • Authorities
    • Company forms
    • Tax
    • Concepts
  • Videos
    • Information videos – about Marian Härtel
    • Videos – about me (Couch)
    • Blogpost – individual videos
    • Videos on services
    • Shorts
    • Podcast format
    • Third-party videos
    • Other videos
  • Contact
  • en English
  • de Deutsch
Kostenlose Kurzberatung