• 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

OLG Cologne on a “one star” rating of a competitor

1. February 2023
in Law on the Internet
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
0
google reviews
Key Facts
  • Cologne Higher Regional Court decides that a negative review without a recognizable reason can be considered disparaging.
  • A rating of one out of five stars is not regarded as a mere expression of opinion.
  • The evaluation is based on a factual core combined with a subjective opinion.
  • Inadmissible abusive business criticism is deemed to exist if there is no factual reference.
  • Negative reviews can have considerable legal consequences and costs.
  • There are numerous legal rulings on this subject that should be observed.
  • Careful consideration should be given to negative reviews on Google, especially for competitors.

The Cologne Higher Regional Court has ruled that a rating of a competitor with one out of five possible stars on Google without any discernible reason (in this case merely professional contact) could constitute a sweeping disparaging value judgment within the meaning of Section 4 No. 1 of the German Unfair Competition Act (UWG) and thus lead to a warning by the competitor.

(1) The evaluation of a competitor by awarding one of a possible five stars in an Internet service is a general disparaging value judgment within the meaning of Sec. 4 No. 1 UWG even if a professional contact existed, but this contact was precisely no recognizable basis for the evaluation.

2. star ratings of entrepreneurial services on Google profiles are not understood by the addressed public as a pure expression of opinion, but as a personal evaluation of a service actually used (cf. BGH, judgment of March 1, 2016 – VI ZR34/15 – jameda.de). In this respect, such evaluations contain a factual core to which the subjective evaluation is linked. A general disparagement which, in the absence of information about the specific circumstances to which the disparaging statement relates, does not reveal this factual reference, is exhausted in the disparagement and is therefore inadmissible entrepreneurial defamatory criticism (BGH, judgment of 19.05.2011 – I ZR 147/09 – Coaching-Newsletter; BGH, judgment of 12.12.2013; OLG Frankfurt, judgment of 27.03.2014 – 6 U 75/12; OLG Frankfurt, decision of 15.07.2021 – 6 W 40/21).

The bottom line is that you should always think twice before giving someone else, let alone a competitor, a negative review on Google. In the meantime, there is a whole series of relevant decisions on the subject complex and a quickly typed assessment can result in a rat race of trouble and costs.

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: Abusive criticismBghCologne Higher Regional CourtFrankfurtinternetserviceWarning

Weitere spannende Blogposts

Attention: Affiliates on YouTube, gaming websites and other networks

Attention: Affiliates on YouTube, gaming websites and other networks
17. July 2019

All affiliates affected After my article yesterday on the judgment of the OLG Dresden(see here) that a website must also...

Read moreDetails

PackG: Affiliates, Merchshops, Dropshipping affected?

PackG: Affiliates, Merchshops, Dropshipping affected?
30. December 2018

Does the PackG apply to streamers, esport teams, etc.? In line with my post from yesterday, I would like to...

Read moreDetails

LG Frankfurt: Online portal must offer more than just woman/man to choose from

Activity as a registered trader: The liability traps
7. November 2022

At the beginning of December last year, the Frankfurt Regional Court made an interesting decision for all online providers who,...

Read moreDetails

ECJ rulings on compensation for data protection breaches

District Court Frankfurt a.M. on the right to be forgotten
26. June 2024

Analysis of the ECJ rulings In its recent decisions C-687/21 and C-340/21, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) provided important...

Read moreDetails

Attempt of cybergrooming to become punishable by law

versuch des cybergrooming soll strafbar werden 2
7. November 2022

Cybergrooming is the targeted response of children on the Internet with the aim of initiating sexual contacts. Cybergrooming is punishable...

Read moreDetails

Fortnite Fan article: Attention warning danger!

Online retailer: Notice of warranty of defects
30. November 2018

Currently, I can only warn against offering unauthorized fan items from Fortnite, the manufacturer Epic Games, such as the replica...

Read moreDetails

OLG Frankfurt: On the place of jurisdiction for internet bookings

OLG Frankfurt: On the place of jurisdiction for internet bookings
5. June 2020

If a flight ticket of a foreign airline is booked via a German-language website that is maintained entirely from abroad...

Read moreDetails

Data protection information according to DSGVO/GDPR

Data protection information according to DSGVO/GDPR
7. November 2022

One of my clients recently received a large data protection request regarding his personal data. Since I do advise my...

Read moreDetails

OLG Celle: Capping of warning costs for file sharing

ECJ: Advocate General assesses sampling as copyright infringement
22. May 2019

Currently there is an interesting verdict from the OLG Celle regarding warnings and complaints in the field of file sharing....

Read moreDetails
Bridge Financing

Bridge Financing

16. October 2024

Bridge financing is a short-term form of financing that companies or investors use to bridge a time gap between two...

Read moreDetails
Cryptovalue

Cryptovalue

30. June 2023
Challenge

Challenge

16. October 2024
Privacy by default

Privacy by default

16. October 2024
Cloud service contract

Cloud service contract

16. October 2024

Podcast Folgen

Leben als IT-Anwalt, Work-Life Balance, Familie und meine Karriere

Leben als IT-Anwalt, Work-Life Balance, Familie und meine Karriere

25. September 2024

In dieser fesselnden Episode meines IT-Medialaw Podcasts teile ich, Marian Härtel, meine persönliche Reise als leidenschaftlicher IT-Rechtsanwalt. Ich erzähle von...

eda7ba83 c559 4e68 8441 41159a0751f3

Blitzskalierung und rechtliche Herausforderungen: Der Balanceakt für Startups

20. April 2025

In dieser Episode sprechen Anna und Max über die rechtlichen Herausforderungen von Blitzskalierung und disruptiven Geschäftsmodellen. Am Beispiel von Plattformen...

Blick in die Zukunft: Wie Technologie das Recht verändert

Blick in die Zukunft: Wie Technologie das Recht verändert

18. February 2025

In der letzten Folge der ersten Staffel des ITmedialaw.com Podcasts werfen wir einen Blick in die Zukunft des Rechts im...

Rechtliche Risiken bei langen Entwicklungszeiten und der Stornierung von Crowdfundingspielen

Rechtliche Risiken bei langen Entwicklungszeiten und der Stornierung von Crowdfundingspielen

20. April 2025

In dieser Episode erörtern wir die rechtlichen Herausforderungen, denen Spieleentwickler bei der Finanzierung durch Crowdfunding gegenüberstehen. Wir beleuchten die Verpflichtungen...

  • 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