Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court: Tap tags need to be labeled as advertising

Are tap tags simply a private service for followers or are they hidden surreptitious advertising after all? In the case dealing with the Instagram posts by fitness influencer Pamela Reif, Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court has now confirmed that product links on images must be labeled as advertising.

Source: REUTERS / POOL – stock.adobe.com

German courts continue to disagree on cases relating to influencers: After Cathy Hummels had prevailed in the second instance at Munich Higher Regional Court (Case 29 U 2333/19), Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court now heard a case relating to influencer Pamela Reif in the second instance (Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court, 09/09/2020, Case 6 U 38/19) – and arrived at an entirely different conclusion regarding Instagram posts. The reasoning for the judgement is still pending.

The case did, however, not relate to the labeling of Instagram posts in general, but only dealt with “tap tags.” What sounds like a new full body workout program of the fitness influencer is the technical term for links on an Instagram post. If Pamela Reif wears a well-known brand sneaker, for instance, or a certain lipstick on an Instagram image and links this image section to a tap tag, users will be able to tap the image area and will be directed to the relevant company or product supplier. Just a private service for her 6.4 million followers or hidden advertising after all?

Confirmation: Tap tags without advertising labeling anti-competitive

Karlsruhe Regional Court had already decided in the lower instance (Case 13 O 38/18 KfH) that tap tags were not a private expression of opinion, but that a commercial purpose is being pursued. Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court also followed this line of arguments: The setting of tap tags without labeling them as advertising would violate the prohibition of unlawful hidden advertising arising from Section 5a(6) Act Against Unfair Competition.

Unlike Munich Higher Regional Court in the Cathy Hummels case, Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court ruled that the Instagram posts are to be classified as a business activity. Reif had argued that she would only set the tap tags to anticipate requests from her followers for products she was wearing. The Court, on the other hand, saw the required business reference both in terms of the influencer’s own business operations and in terms of the “tagged” company, since not only her own image but also the third-party company would be promoted.

“One of them” vs. women’s magazine

Pamela Reif would also pursue commercial interests with the tap tags – irrespective of whether the influencer was paid for use of the tap tags or not. According to the Higher Regional Court, the private appearance on the one hand and communication elements influenced by third-party interests on the other hand are posing a competitive threat. By her community, Pamela Reif would be perceived as being “one of them” and authentic. The most recent influencer judgement therefore stands in clear contrast to the recent decisions of Hamburg Higher Regional Court (Case 15 U 142/19) and Munich Higher Regional Court. Unlike the other courts, Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court did not draw the parallel to women’s magazines, which do not have to label product recommendations either.

The course is set for a decision by the Federal Court of Justice

A decision by the Federal Court of Justice on the requirements under competition law for influencer posts is still pending. Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court also allowed the filing of an appeal. In view of the many different pending cases, there is hope that the Federal Court of Justice will soon ensure a uniform line and more legal certainty.