Telemedia Act

The German Telemedia Act (TMG) regulates the general information obligations of telemedia service providers. This includes the imprint, general terms and conditions, conditions of participation in competitions, data protection, termination rights, objection period, etc.

The data protection section, for example, deals with user rights and the handling of sensitive personal and company data, as well as its storage and disclosure. The latter also to government agencies for the purpose of criminal prosecution.

The Telemedia Act applies exclusively to business telemedia and is always applied when services or goods are offered in return for payment. In this context, online auctions and online ordering, paid information and search functions, advertising e-mails, teleshopping and a few others are worth mentioning. Broadcast services such as radio or television and broadcast services transmitted on the Internet are not covered by the Telemedia Act. It does, however, deal with the problem of spam e-mails.

The Telemedia Act, which came into force in 2007, replaces the previously applicable Teleservices Act(TDG) and the Media Services Treaty(MDStV).