Regional Appeal Court in Hamburg

Judgement of 4th May 2000 (3 U 197/99) – “Kulturwerbung”

1. Since an internet domain name is generally suitable to designate a party which can be reached via this identification (be it a person or a company), such an opportunity emerges also, if it contains generic terms, as long as it is understood as a individualised address under which a certain person or a certain company can be reached.

2. This is usually the case, if particular circumstances are lacking, which prevent the internet users from presuming an individual behind the name, especially if the name provides no information as to the kind of the entity whatsoever.