Legal Notice Requirements in Germany, Austria & Switzerland – Everything Your Company Needs to Know
The Impressum – the legally required site notice – is more than a formality. It is a mandatory disclosure for website operators, online stores and content creators across the German-speaking region. Anyone who omits it or gets the details wrong risks cease-and-desist letters and fines. This article explains which information is mandatory in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and how to make your site notice legally sound.
1. What Is the Site Notice Requirement?
The requirement exists to create transparency: users should be able to see at any time who is behind a website. It applies to every commercially operated site – including freelancers, agencies, bloggers with advertising income and online stores.
2. Who Needs a Site Notice?
- Companies (sole proprietors, GmbH, AG and so on)
- Freelancers and self-employed people engaged in commercial activity
- Bloggers, influencers and creators with income or advertising partnerships
- Associations, organizations and public-law bodies
Private individuals with no commercial background (a personal hobby site, for example) do not need one. But advertising, affiliate links or even embedding analytics tools can already count as commercial.
3. Mandatory Information
Germany (Section 5 TMG, Section 55 RStV)
- Full name and street address (no P.O. box)
- Contact details (email address, phone number)
- Authorized representative (for legal entities)
- Register entry (commercial, association or partnership register)
- VAT identification number (if applicable)
- Professional title and chamber membership (for regulated professions)
- Details of the supervisory authority (where required)
Austria (Section 5 ECG, Section 24 MedienG)
- Name / company name and address
- Contact details (email, phone)
- Company register number and court (if applicable)
- VAT number (for VAT-registered businesses)
- Competent supervisory authority or chamber (for example the WKO)
- Details of the media owner and editorial policy (for journalistic websites)
Switzerland (Art. 3 para. 1 lit. s UWG)
- Company name / name and full postal address
- A way to make contact (email or contact form)
- UID number or commercial register entry (if applicable)
4. Where Does the Site Notice Belong?
It has to be easy to identify, directly accessible and permanently available – typically as a footer link labeled „Impressum“ or „Contact & Legal“. Social media profiles (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) also need a link to it whenever commercial content is published there.
5. Fines and Cease-and-Desist Letters
If the site notice is missing or contains incorrect details, you face:
- Cease-and-desist letters from competitors or consumer protection associations
- Fines of up to €50,000 (Germany) or €3,000 (Austria)
- Loss of trust among customers and business partners
6. Practical Tips for Your Site Notice
- Use an up-to-date site notice generator (eRecht24 or the WKO, for example)
- Review your details regularly to make sure they are current
- Add your site notice to every online channel (website, social media, newsletter)
- Combine the site notice with a link to your privacy policy for clarity
7. Example: Site Notice for Agencies or Freelancers
Impressum Roland Muster BIT62 Web Development Musterstraße 12, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria Email: kontakt@bit62.com Phone: +43 512 123456 VAT no.: ATU12345678 Member of the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce, UBIT division Media owner: Roland Muster – editorial policy: information on software, design & technology
Conclusion
A complete site notice is not optional – it is a legal requirement and a significant part of how credible your business looks. Whether you run an agency, an online store or a creator profile: make sure your site notice is complete, current and easy to reach. That protects you from legal risk and strengthens the trust of your visitors.