What is the Impressum requirement?

Impressum requirement: definition and basis

Anyone who operates a website or app on a commercial basis—meaning on a continuing basis and usually for payment or with a business purpose—must provide a legal notice (Impressum). The obligation arises from Section 5 DDG (the German Digital Services Act, not to be confused with the EU act of the same name), which has replaced the former Telemedia Act (TMG) since May 2024. It applies to companies, freelancers and associations with economic activity, as well as to online stores and business social media profiles.

Purely private sites without a business connection are exempt. The legal notice must be easy to recognize, directly accessible and permanently available. A link labeled “Impressum” in the footer of every page, reachable within two clicks at most, is standard. Access must not be hidden in the mobile view or in apps either. A link that only appears after long scrolling or inside a collapsed menu is risky.

Mandatory details under Section 5 DDG

Which details are required depends on legal form and industry. All providers state their name and a postal address at which they can be served, as well as details enabling fast electronic contact and direct communication, including an email address. For legal entities, the legal form and authorized representatives are added.

• Name and an address for service of process, not just a P.O. box
• Email address and one further fast means of contact, such as a phone number or contact form
• Legal form and authorized representatives for companies
• Register and registration number, for example the commercial register, if registered
• VAT identification number, if available
• Supervisory authority for activities that require authorization
• Chamber, professional title and professional rules for regulated professions

Real-world example: a skilled-trades business before a relaunch

A skilled-trades business organized as a GmbH has its website rebuilt. The old legal notice shows only the company name, a P.O. box and a phone number; the managing director, commercial register number and VAT ID are missing, and the competent chamber is not named. Gaps like these are a classic reason for competition-law warning letters.

During the relaunch, the legal notice is fully revised: address for service, authorized representatives, register court and number, VAT ID, chamber membership and professional title where applicable, plus email and phone. The profiles on social networks then link to this same legal notice. This keeps website, footer and profiles maintained from one source and consistent.

Common mistakes and consequences

Typical mistakes are outdated details after a move or a change of legal form, a legal notice reachable only through hidden links, missing legal-form suffixes and missing details on social media profiles. Violations can lead to fines and warning letters from competitors or associations. Do not adopt texts from template generators without checking them.

The Impressum does not replace the privacy notice: the two pages serve different purposes and must be findable separately. If details change, such as management or address, the legal notice should be updated promptly. Industry-specific information duties may also apply, for example in online retail, financial services or healthcare professions. Check these points together with your chamber or legal counsel.

What companies should look out for

Decide who in the company maintains the legal notice, and review it whenever address, management or register data change. Integrate it technically so that it stays reachable from the footer, menu and mobile view. Nano Concepts builds the Impressum and privacy pages cleanly into the website and keeps them up to date during relaunches; the review of the content belongs with your legal counsel. This article does not replace legal advice.