Google is not allowed to rate hotels with stars

The Berlin Regional Court has ruled that Google LLC, Mountain View (USA) may not in future advertise hotels located in Germany with the claim “X-star hotel” either itself or through third parties in the Federal Republic of Germany without this claim being based on a currently valid certification in accordance with DEHOGA Deutsche Hotelklassifizierung GmbH for the respective hotel. The Wettbewerbszentrale had objected to such information as misleading and distorting competition. As part of the legal dispute, Google LLC then declared an acknowledgement, whereupon the Regional Court of Berlin ordered the search engine operator to cease and desist from this unlawful advertising representation (LG Berlin, judgment of July 8, 2020, Ref.: 101 O 3/19; PM of the Wettbewerbszentrale from July 20, 2020).

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Dennis Tölle

Specialist Attorney for Copyright and Media Law; Specialist Attorney for Intellectual Property Law

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