Recht im Online-Handel

If you ship packaged goods to consumers in Germany, you are required to register with the packaging register LUCID and to participate in a licensed dual system, regardless of how small your shop is. This article explains in plain language what the German Packaging Act requires of you, who it affects, and how to proceed step by step to avoid fines and listing bans on marketplaces like Amazon.

A data protection breach in an online shop can give affected customers a right to damages under Article 82 of the General Data Protection Regulation, and this now applies to small and medium shops as well, not only to large corporations. We explain in plain language what this means and what to do now.

Few topics currently cause as much uncertainty as the EU's NIS2 Directive. Many shop owners wonder whether new obligations are suddenly heading their way, even though they have nothing to do with classic critical infrastructure. The good news first: most medium-sized and small online shops are not directly affected. Still, a calm look at the topic is worthwhile, because the underlying expectations increasingly reach shops through business partners, banks and payment providers. We explain what this is about and what you can calmly look into.

Almost every shop owner has a model withdrawal form linked somewhere on the site, often unchanged for years. That can turn into a problem the moment your own company details in it are no longer correct or the return shipping cost rule stays unclear. In the worst case, this can substantially extend your customers' withdrawal period. We explain in plain language what really matters here.

If you sell textiles or have goods labeled under your own brand, you need to keep two EU rules in view: the Textile Labelling Regulation for fibre composition and, for certain product categories, the duty to name a responsible economic operator with an EU address. This article explains in plain language what both rules mean, who is affected and what steps shop owners should take now to avoid warning letters and problems at customs.

Since May 2022, you must state the lowest price of the last 30 days whenever you advertise a discount. This rule was introduced to stop the old trick of raising a price shortly before a sale just to make the discount look bigger. We explain what this means for your shop and how to stay on the safe side.

Almost every online shop sets cookies, whether for the shopping cart, statistics or advertising. But a simple banner with only an "OK" button has long stopped being legally sufficient. The German Telecommunications-Telemedia Data Protection Act, known as the TTDSG, sets out exactly when you need prior consent from your visitors, and in 2026 this obligation is becoming newly relevant through stricter enforcement. We explain in plain language what this is about and what you can calmly take care of.

The Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, known in Germany as the Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz or LkSG, requires large companies in Germany to respect human rights and environmental standards in their own business operations and along their supply chain. Many owners of smaller online shops believe this law has nothing to do with them, because it officially only applies to very large companies. In reality, small retailers can be indirectly affected as soon as they supply products to larger business partners or sell imported goods from countries with elevated risk.

Since 1 January 2025, a new obligation around business-to-business invoices applies in Germany. It affects not only large corporations but, in principle, every company, including small online shops and businesses using the small-business VAT exemption. We explain in plain language what is changing, since when exactly, and what you should do now, without needing to become a tax expert yourself. By the end of this article, you will know exactly where you stand and which next step to take.

The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a new EU regulation that has applied since 17 February 2024 to nearly all online shops with customer reviews, comment sections or marketplace offerings. Among other things, it requires an easily reachable point of contact, a simple way to report illegal content, and a ban on manipulative interface designs. This article explains in plain language who is affected and what you should do now.