The German legal notice (Impressum): mandatory details under § 5 DDG with examples
The legal notice (Impressum) is the mandatory page almost every business website targeting Germany needs, and it's still often wrong: outdated sections, missing register number, no email address. Errors in the Impressum are among the most common reasons for cease-and-desist letters in Germany. This article shows what belongs in it under Section 5 of the Digital Services Act (DDG), by legal form and for special professions.
Who needs an Impressum
Under Section 5 DDG, providers of commercial digital services usually offered for payment must keep certain information easy to find, directly reachable and permanently available. That covers practically every company website, including sole traders, and social media profiles used for business. The DDG has applied since 14 May 2024; references to "§ 5 TMG" are outdated.
The mandatory details
Section 5(1) DDG lists, among others, these details where they apply to you:
- Name and address of the establishment; for legal entities also legal form and authorised representatives, such as a GmbH's managing directors. A PO box isn't enough.
- Details for fast electronic contact, including an email address; in practice also a phone number.
- Commercial, association, partnership or cooperative register with registration number, if registered.
- VAT identification number or business identification number, if you have one.
- For activities requiring a licence, the competent supervisory authority, for example for brokers or security companies.
- For regulated professions, the chamber, the statutory professional title with the state that granted it and the professional rules.
- For companies in winding-up or liquidation, a note to that effect.
Where and how the Impressum must appear
"Easy to find and directly reachable" in practice means a link labelled "Impressum" in the footer of every page, not hidden in the privacy policy and not behind a cookie banner. On social media profiles, add a link to the website's Impressum that works with one tap on a phone.
Content often confused with the Impressum but belonging separately: privacy policy, terms and conditions, withdrawal information. Information on consumer dispute resolution under Section 36 VSBG often sits in the Impressum but is a separate duty; the former link to the EU online dispute resolution platform was dropped in July 2025.
Typical mistakes
These are the Impressum mistakes we see most often:
- Outdated reference to the Telemedia Act.
- Missing authorised representatives for a GmbH or UG.
- No email address, only a contact form.
- Register number or VAT ID missing or outdated.
- No Impressum on landing pages, microsites or social media profiles.
- An old reference to the discontinued ODR platform.
Frequently asked questions
- Does my private home address have to be in the Impressum?
- It must be the address for service of the establishment. If you work from home, you can use a business address where mail is actually delivered; a PO box alone isn't enough.
- Do I need an Impressum on a landing page?
- Yes, every business page needs a reachable Impressum, including landing pages for ad campaigns.
- Is an Impressum generator enough?
- As a basis, yes. Check that every detail fits your legal form and profession, and update the Impressum after every change, such as a new managing director.
Sources
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