Cathy Hummels
She welcomes judgment on influencer advertising
Cathy Hummels is happy about the BGH judgment.
© imago images / Horst Galuschka
Cathy Hummels fought for her rights in influencer advertising for four years. Now the Federal Court of Justice has passed a judgment.
The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) decided on September 9ththat not all products mentioned in social media posts need to be labeled as advertising. Influencers must mark what is shown as advertising if they receive something in return for an “exaggerated promotional” product presentation.
In an interview with “ZDFheute live” explained influencer Cathy Hummels (33) that she was “really happy about it”. The 33-year-old, who went to court because of the issue, said she had been wronged. That’s why she fought for four years, investing time and money. “My first priority is my credibility and authenticity,” said Hummels. “And when I spend money on a product, my own money […], then I just want to be able to recommend it out of my own free will. “
Cathy Hummels speaks of a “groundbreaking” judgment
It is different if she receives something in return for a post. There they write “then also ad underneath”. “To be honest, that’s clear to me and I appeal to my own sense of responsibility.” Hummels said she couldn’t say what the future will bring. But she hopes “that my judgment was groundbreaking for the time being, that many other dishes are also based on it and that simply this warning madness for the whole influencer world […] is contained “. The first milestone has been achieved, she was positive.
Even on Instagram Hummels, who has more than 640,000 followers on the social media platform, celebrated the BGH ruling. “What I like, I like and you should know that. It’s no different than in a women’s magazine,” she wrote about a picture of herself. “I fought for X years and now the BGH, the highest court, has confirmed that.”
What was the argument about?
The Association of Social Competition had accused Hummels of operating surreptitious advertising through brand placements and links to the relevant websites if the products were not labeled accordingly.
Since the influencer did not mark products she bought herself as advertising, she was warned by the association. Hummels then went to court. The dispute dragged on for around four years. The BGH has now ruled in three cases, one of which is Hummels.