1. Impressum obligation – is your website legally required to have it?
Yes, your site is subject to the Impressum requirement if it:
is used for commercial or semi-commercial purposes
(e.g. online shop, blog with ads, services, or an app), and/or
is a professional social-media account (business Instagram, Facebook page, etc.)
What must an Impressum contain?
According to § 5 TMG, at least the following information is mandatory:
| Item | Practical example |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ali Salama |
| Registered address | Kattenhunder Weg 69, 24837 Schleswig |
| Contact details | Tel: +49 xxx / E-mail: info@beispiel.de |
| Legal form | UG (haftungsbeschränkt) or sole proprietorship (Einzelunternehmen) |
| Commercial register | HRB number + competent local court (Amtsgericht), if any |
| VAT ID | VAT ID (USt-IdNr): DE… |
| Professional supervision | If subject to a chamber (e.g. Chamber of Crafts – Handwerkskammer) |
The Impressum must be accessible from any page within a maximum of 2 clicks.
2. Cookie banner and consent (Einwilligung)
When is a cookie banner mandatory?
Whenever you use any of the following cookies or tools:
| Case / Tool | Is consent required? |
|---|---|
| Purely technical cookies (e.g. language, session ID) | No |
| Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, embedded YouTube | Yes |
| Advertising tools (Google Ads, remarketing, etc.) | Yes |
| Google Maps, Vimeo videos | Yes |
Legal requirements for a cookie banner
Under the GDPR (DSGVO) and TTDSG, the banner must comply with:
| Requirement | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Opt-in (not opt-out) | No pre-ticked boxes – users must actively agree |
| Equal “Reject” option | The “Reject” button must be as visible as “Accept” |
| Clear category breakdown | Users must see categories: necessary, statistics, marketing, etc. |
| Easy management | Users must be able to change their consent later |
| Updated privacy policy | Explains each tool, its purpose, duration, and provider |
Recommended cookie-consent tools (GDPR-compliant)
| Tool | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Cookiebot | Easy to integrate, multi-language, GDPR certificate |
| Usercentrics | Professional, enterprise-grade solution |
| Real Cookie Banner (WordPress) | Powerful plugin with consent-log functionality |
| Consentmanager.de | Established in Germany, strong local support |
Consequences of non-compliance
| Violation | Possible penalty |
|---|---|
| No Impressum | Fine of up to €50,000 + warning letter (Abmahnung) |
| Non-compliant cookie banner | Warning by the data protection authority + fine up to €300,000 |
| Activating tracking tools without consent | Serious privacy breach (Art. 6 GDPR) |
The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors or incomplete or non-final information may occur. Please treat the information provided here as an initial point of orientation and always contact the competent authorities and professional advisers for binding and up-to-date guidance.
