May I publish customer reviews of my competitors on my website?
June 10, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Sandra Bittner
Dear Lawyer,
My name is Fred Raab and I run an online shop specializing in the sale of electronic products. Lately, I have noticed that my competitors are posting customer reviews on their websites, in which they speak positively about their products and services. Now, I am wondering if it is legally allowed to publish these customer reviews of my competitors on my own website.
My goal is to strengthen the trust of my customers and provide them with a comprehensive review of the products and services offered. Since the customer reviews of my competitors are already available and contain positive information, it would be an easy way for me to increase the credibility of my online shop.
However, I am concerned that I may be violating competition law or that there could be legal consequences if I publish customer reviews of my competitors on my website without their permission. I want to ensure that I am operating within the law and not taking any legal risks.
Therefore, my question to you as an expert in competition law is: Am I allowed to publish customer reviews of my competitors on my website without obtaining their explicit consent? Are there any possible alternative solutions to strengthen the trust of my customers without violating competition law?
Thank you in advance for your support and professional advice.
Sincerely,
Fred Raab
Dear Mr. Raab,
Thank you for your question regarding the publication of customer reviews of your competitors on your own website. I understand that you want to strengthen the trust of your customers and provide comprehensive information about your products and services. It is important that you operate within the framework of competition law and avoid any legal risks.
Regarding your question, I can inform you that publishing customer reviews of your competitors on your website without their explicit consent may have legal consequences. Competition law protects intellectual property and the rights of companies, especially in relation to advertising activities and customer reviews.
If you wish to use customer reviews from your competitors, you should ensure that you obtain their explicit permission. Without such approval, you could be in violation of competition law and potentially risk legal action that could lead to compensation claims or other consequences.
However, there are alternative solutions to strengthen the trust of your customers without violating competition law. For example, you could collect customer reviews from your own customers and publish them on your website. You could also be present on independent review platforms to receive objective and authentic reviews.
Overall, I recommend that you be cautious and refrain from publishing customer reviews of your competitors without their consent. It is important to respect legal boundaries and find alternative ways to strengthen the trust of your customers.
I hope this response has been helpful to you and I am available to answer any further questions you may have.
Best regards,
Sandra Bittner
