• Latest
  • Trending
When is an email “received” in a business environment?

When is an email “received” in a business environment?

7. November 2022
ChatGPT and lawyers: recordings of the Weblaw launch event

Private AI use in the company

24. October 2025
Lego brick still protected as a design patent

App purchases, in-app purchases and sales tax

21. October 2025
dsgvo 1

What belongs in a DPA? Data processing agreement in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR

17. October 2025
Smart contracts in the insurance industry: contract design and regulatory compliance for InsurTech start-ups

Contract for work vs. service contract in software, AI and games projects

15. October 2025

Influencer contract: performance profile, rights/buyouts, labeling and AI content

13. October 2025
AI content for subscription platforms

AI content for subscription platforms

29. September 2025
E-sports finally charitable? What the government draft of the Tax Amendment Act 2025 really brings

E-sports finally charitable? What the government draft of the Tax Amendment Act 2025 really brings

23. September 2025
Clubs, photos and minors: managing consent properly

Clubs, photos and minors: managing consent properly

22. September 2025
AI faces, voice clones and deepfakes in advertising: rules of the game under the EU AI Act and German law

AI faces, voice clones and deepfakes in advertising: rules of the game under the EU AI Act and German law

17. September 2025
Modding in EULAs and contracts – what applies legally in Germany?

Modding in EULAs and contracts – what applies legally in Germany?

8. September 2025
Arbitration agreements in EULAs and developer contracts

Arbitration agreements in EULAs and developer contracts

7. September 2025
Chain of title in game development: building a clean chain of rights

Chain of title in game development: building a clean chain of rights

6. September 2025
Fail-fast clauses in media productions – what are they actually?

Fail-fast clauses in media productions – what are they actually?

5. September 2025
Founder’s agreement vs. shareholder agreement: setting the course for startups at an early stage

Founder’s agreement vs. shareholder agreement: setting the course for startups at an early stage

12. August 2025
Cheat software without code intervention: What the BGH really decided in the Sony ./. Datel case (I ZR 157/21)

Cheat software without code intervention: What the BGH really decided in the Sony ./. Datel case (I ZR 157/21)

11. August 2025
Digital integrity as a (new) fundamental right: status in Germany and the EU in 2025

Digital integrity as a (new) fundamental right: status in Germany and the EU in 2025

10. August 2025
European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG)

EU Digital Decade 2030: Data law, Data Act & eIDAS 2 – what needs to be implemented in 2025

8. August 2025
Upload filters between copyright and personal rights

Upload filters between copyright and personal rights

7. August 2025
On-demand transmission right in the digital space: streaming, Section 19a UrhG and licensing

On-demand transmission right in the digital space: streaming, Section 19a UrhG and licensing

6. August 2025
Q&A: Legal issues for game developers

5-day guide: Founding a game development studio

5. August 2025
  • Mehr als 3 Millionen Wörter Inhalt
  • |
  • info@itmedialaw.com
  • |
  • Tel: 03322 5078053
Kurzberatung

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
  • 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

When is an email “received” in a business environment?

7. November 2022
in Law on the Internet
Reading Time: 1 min read
0 0
A A
0
email gef5843622 1280

The legal term “access” is relevant to numerous legal issues. When exactly this is the case, however, can be disputed in individual cases, because well-known interpretations such as “when a letter has entered the sphere of power” are only of limited use for digital communication.

Key Facts
  • Access is a central legal concept that is decisive for many legal issues.
  • Clarity about access is often contentious, especially in digital communication.
  • Traditional interpretations, such as the letterbox, are not always applicable to digital communication.
  • BGH has made an important decision on e-mail communication in business transactions.
  • An e-mail is deemed to have been received if it is available for retrieval on the mail server within business hours.
  • The actual collection of the e-mail is not necessary for access.
  • Details of the decision can be found in the full reasons for the judgment.

Now the Federal Court of Justice has commented on this.

In this respect, the decision is very reminiscent of the good old “mailbox”.

If an e-mail is made available for retrieval on the recipient’s mail server during normal business hours, it is generally deemed to have been received by the recipient at that time.
The fact that the e-mail is actually retrieved and taken note of is not required for access.

The whole decision can be found here.

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: BghdigitalE‑mailLegal issuesLegal questionMailServer

Weitere spannende Blogposts

BGH decides on delisting request against Google

BGH considers Uber Black to be anti-competitive
23. May 2023

Facts: The plaintiff works for or is involved in various companies offering financial services in a responsible position. The plaintiff...

Read moreDetails

Are the results of AI generators protectable at all?

Are the results of AI generators protectable at all?
2. March 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) is getting better at generating content such as text, images or music. But who actually owns the...

Read moreDetails

Watch out for copyright on jointly managed Instagram accounts!

Instagram blocking? Observe appropriate waiting period!
17. May 2024

In a recent ruling by the Berlin Regional Court dated 27.09.2023 (Ref.: 15 U 464/23), there are exciting statements that...

Read moreDetails

BGH makes salesman the trick madig

No more free tissues at the pharmacy?
7. November 2022

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has made a decision on the law of sale which, although it actually concerns...

Read moreDetails

GDPR: nearly 10 million fines for unsecured hotline * Update*

GDPR: nearly 10 million fines for unsecured hotline * Update*
9. December 2019

More and more fines are slowly being imposed and the data protection officers are getting more and more serious. Now...

Read moreDetails

LSG Celle: Artists’ social security contributions may not be levied on the basis of an undifferentiated estimate

LSG Celle: Artists’ social security contributions may not be levied on the basis of an undifferentiated estimate
8. March 2023

In an exciting decision on the so-called Künstlersozialabgabe (artists' social security contribution), the Landessozialgericht Celle (Regional Social Court of Celle)...

Read moreDetails

Designing your SaaS solution in compliance with data protection regulations as a US company!

Designing your SaaS solution in compliance with data protection regulations as a US company!
5. January 2021

In its judgment of July 16, 2020 (Case C311/18), the European Court of Justice declared the European Commission's Decision 2016/1250...

Read moreDetails

OLG Naumburg on IP Blocking in Injunction Proceedings

ITMediaLaw: Http3 on Litespeed Server
7. November 2022

Unlike the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court a few years ago in a case I represented, the Naumburg Higher Regional Court...

Read moreDetails

B2B contracts: Link reference to GTC is sufficient

Lego brick still protected as a design patent
27. March 2023

Since I create many software contracts, the question arises again and again whether and how GTC can be included in...

Read moreDetails
Kryptowert
Other

Verloren nach Kryptobetrug? – Technisch-rechtliche Symbiose als Rettungsanker

17. December 2025

Kryptobetrug wirkt oft wie ein finaler Zustand: Ein Klick zu viel, eine Wallet verknüpft, eine Signatur bestätigt – und Vermögenswerte...

Read moreDetails
Lego-Baustein weiterhin als Geschmacksmuster geschützt

Russmedia (EuGH C-492/23): Wenn „Host Provider“ plötzlich Verantwortliche sind

15. December 2025
Achtung mit Black Friday Werbung!

Firmennamen schützen: Domainrecht, Markenrecht und Namensrecht in Deutschland

11. December 2025
ai generated g63ed67bf8 1280

Urheberrecht und KI-Training vor Hamburger Gerichten

11. December 2025
BGH hält Uber Black für wettbewerbswidrig

Britische Anbieter, deutscher Gerichtsstand

10. December 2025

Podcastfolge

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...

Read moreDetails
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
Rechtliche Basics für Startup-Gründer – So startest du auf der sicheren Seite!

Rechtliche Basics für Startup-Gründer – So startest du auf der sicheren Seite!

1. November 2024
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