Legal notice

Who needs one?

Operating on a business basis does not necessarily mean making a profit. It also includes blogs with advertising banners, associations and websites promoting their own services. Only purely private sites without any business connection generally fall outside this requirement.

What to include

• Your name and a physical address where legal documents can be served. A PO box is not sufficient.
• For companies: the legal form and all authorised representatives.
• Contact details: an email address and another quick means of contact, usually a telephone number.
• The register and registration number, if registered.
• VAT identification number, if available.
• The supervisory authority for businesses requiring authorisation.
• For regulated professions: the professional chamber, professional title and country in which it was awarded.
• For editorial content: the person responsible under Section 18(2) of the German Interstate Media Treaty.

The four most common mistakes

1. 1Zu tief versteckt – The legal notice must be reachable from every page in no more than two clicks and clearly labelled. “Contact” alone is not sufficient.
2. 2Tax number instead of VAT IDNo. – Do not publish your tax number in the legal notice. Include only your VAT identification number, if you have one.
3. 3Link to EU Dispute Settlement – The platform closed in July 2025. The link no longer works and should be removed.
4. 4No second contact path – A form alone is not sufficient. Provide a direct email address and another quick means of contact.