Hamburg court issues injunction against Trustpilot over anonymous review

The Hamburg Regional Court has issued an interim injunction against the review portal Trustpilot, prohibiting the publication of an anonymous negative review regarding a German company. The ruling, obtained by the law firm SterneAdvo, stipulates that Trustpilot could face fines of up to 250,000 euros for violations.

The case arose after a company challenged the legitimacy of a negative review, claiming no business contact had occurred with the reviewer. The court ruled that Trustpilot violated its duty to investigate such claims. When a company disputes a customer relationship, the platform must verify the facts and provide sufficient information to the affected business to allow for verification.

While Trustpilot had previously removed the review, the company had indicated it might republish it. The court emphasized the distinction between voluntary deletion and a judicial injunction, noting that a court order provides enforceable protection against re-publication.