Since Thursday, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has been examining whether the Internet shipping giant Amazon may be liable for problematic content among participants in its partner program. Registered partners can set links to products offered by Amazon on their own website. If a purchase is made, Amazon pays a commission. Such links are called affiliate links. “Affiliate” is English and means partner.
A mattress manufacturer complained that it was bothered by the fact that these links also appeared in fake test reports or on dubious advice sites. He thinks that Amazon has a duty of supervision.
However, the presiding judge Thomas Koch was rather skeptical about this in the Karlsruhe hearing: According to the findings of the lower courts, the partners are free to shape their side. You are not obliged to set links to Amazon, you can also participate in other partner programs and negatively discuss linked products. The verdict will be announced in the near future. (dpa)