• 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

GTCs are not invalid solely because of their length!

7. November 2022
in Competition law, Law on the Internet
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
0
Alena Piatrova | Shutterstock

Alena Piatrova | Shutterstock

Key Facts
  • The legal effects of general terms and conditions and data protection declarations are enormous, even though they are rarely read.
  • The Federation of German Consumer Organizations lost its dispute over PayPal's general terms and conditions in Cologne.
  • The T&Cs were criticized for being incomprehensible and too long; a reader needs around 80 minutes to read them.
  • The Cologne Higher Regional Court confirmed the judgment of the Regional Court and dismissed the appeal.
  • The scope of the GTC was not considered unreasonable as several parties are involved.
  • The comprehensibility index was not sufficient to classify the GTC as inadmissible.
  • Individual clauses in the overall work were not sufficient to completely prohibit the GTC.

There are two types of legal texts that almost no one reads, but they can have enormous legal effects. Terms and conditions and privacy policy.

It is often criticized that general terms and conditions are much too long for a normal person, let alone a legally uneducated person, to read or understand.

In the dispute over the legality of PayPal’s General Terms and Conditions, however, the Federation of German Consumer Organizations also lost in the second instance before the 6th Civil Senate of the Cologne Higher Regional Court. The vzbv had applied to prohibit the payment service provider in Germany from using its – in the meantime slightly amended and shortened – general terms and conditions vis-à-vis consumers.

The Federation of German Consumer Organizations (Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband) had claimed that the defendant’s GTCs were incomprehensible in their entirety and considerably too long. It takes an average reader about 80 minutes to read, he said. It was therefore unreasonable to expect consumers to obtain knowledge of the content of the regulations.

The 6th Civil Senate of the Cologne Higher Regional Court, however, dismissed the appeal and upheld the judgment of the Cologne Regional Court dismissing the action. In its reasoning, the Senate essentially stated that it may constitute a violation of the so-called transparency requirement if the general terms and conditions exceed a reasonable scope in relation to the significance of the transaction. However, it had not been shown that the scope of the defendant’s GTC was unreasonable.

In this respect, the considerable number of 83 pages in printed form alone could not be taken as a basis. Rather, it had to be taken into account that the GTC enabled the processing of a payment between five different persons. In addition to the payer, the payee and PayPal, banks and credit card companies may also be involved in a payment transaction. Moreover, the consumer could not only be in the role of the payer, but also – for example in the case of refunds – in the role of the payee.

The reference to the evaluation by means of an “intelligibility index” was not sufficiently substantiated. This is because the question of whether general terms and conditions are unlawful in their entirety depends on numerous factors that cannot be reflected in the context of a blanket index. For example, the use of foreign words could also be permissible if they are sufficiently explained. Insofar as the vzbv had named individual clauses which in its view were superfluous, this was not sufficient to prohibit the General Terms and Conditions in their entirety on the grounds that reading them was unreasonable. The designation of a few clauses in the context of the overall work was not sufficient for this purpose.

 

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: AGBBankConsumerConsumer CenterCredit cardGeneral Terms and ConditionsLawsuitPrivacy

Weitere spannende Blogposts

Courts overturn IP block on illegal gambling

Lottery brokerage/gambling/betting on the Internet without permission?
17. February 2023

Despite the new State Gambling Treaty and a trend in recent years for courts to affirm repayment claims by customers...

Read moreDetails

LG Düsseldorf: “Malle” as a trademark has legal status

International trademark application at WIPO
29. November 2019

By judgment of 29 November 2019, the 8th Chamber of Commercial Matters of the Regional Court of Düsseldorf ruled that...

Read moreDetails

Bavarian Administrative Court confirms decision on Facebook Custom Audiences

20. November 2018

Last month, the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision published a comprehensive checklist on how companies must handle Facebook's...

Read moreDetails

German courts have jurisdiction at .de Domain

German courts have jurisdiction at .de Domain
20. March 2019

Time and again, especially with international Internet portals, the question arises as to whether German courts have jurisdiction, for example...

Read moreDetails

Match Fixing in Esport: Legal Consequences?

Match Fixing in Esport: Legal Consequences?
12. September 2019

Time and again in esport, accusations arise in individual teams about match fixing, i.e. the deliberate loss of games in...

Read moreDetails

EU Commission takes positive stock of the GDPR

eu komission zieht positive bilanz zur dsgvo
7. November 2022

Almost one year after the entry into force of the General Data Protection Regulation, the European Commission today published a...

Read moreDetails

Esports tournament winnings: when and how are they taxable?

ce956c7a26bdb4f4bc2bf92a0fb460ec
13. August 2024

As a lawyer who represents many tournament organizers, esports players and esports teams, I realize that the issue of taxation...

Read moreDetails

Already created a processing directory?

Already created a processing directory?
6. November 2019

Obligation since the GDPR was applied Since last May, many have become aware that a privacy policy is needed on...

Read moreDetails

Smart Contracts, DeFi and AI: Innovative Business Ideas and their Legal Challenges in IT Law

Blockchain in the supply chain
17. October 2023

In a recently published LinkedIn post, it was announced that the interface between smart contracts, decentralized financial systems (DeFi) and...

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

KI im Recht: Chancen, Risiken und Regulierung – der IT Media Law Podcast Episode 3

KI im Recht: Chancen, Risiken und Regulierung – der IT Media Law Podcast Episode 3

28. August 2024

Willkommen zur dritten Episode unseres Podcasts "IT Media Law"! In dieser Folge tauchen wir ein in die faszinierende Welt der...

Read moreDetails
Das Metaverse – Rechtliche Herausforderungen in virtuellen Welten

Das Metaverse – Rechtliche Herausforderungen in virtuellen Welten

25. September 2024
Rechtliche Risiken bei langen Entwicklungszeiten und der Stornierung von Crowdfundingspielen

Rechtliche Risiken bei langen Entwicklungszeiten und der Stornierung von Crowdfundingspielen

20. April 2025
“Digitales Recht Entschlüsselt” mit Rechtsanwalt Marian Härtel

“Digitales Recht Entschlüsselt” mit Rechtsanwalt Marian Härtel

25. September 2024
Die Romantisierung des Prinzips ‘Fail Fast’ in Startups – Wann wird Scheitern zur Täuschung gegenüber Beteiligten?

Die Romantisierung des Prinzips ‘Fail Fast’ in Startups – Wann wird Scheitern zur Täuschung gegenüber Beteiligten?

20. April 2025

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