German Unfair Competition Law And The Internet

Companies and consumers are making increased use of the Internet for their business transactions. More and more companies in Germany are offering their products and services via the Internet. Thus, German companies and courts are increasingly likely to look to German unfair competition law as a means for regulating Internet commerce.

The main provisions of German unfair competition law are contained in the Gesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb (UWG/German Unfair Competition Act). In principle, the Unfair Competition Act applies to all forms of communication and all forms of advertising. Thus, the provisions of the UWG also apply to advertising and other forms of communication in the Internet.