Roland Weißmann loses media law case against Falter

Roland Weißmann, the former Director-General of the ORF, has lost a media law case against the weekly newspaper ‘Falter’. The Vienna Regional Court ruled in favor of the publication, dismissing Weißmann’s lawsuit regarding the release of intimate chat messages with an employee.

The court’s decision followed reasoning previously established by the Higher Regional Court of Vienna. The judge determined that Weißmann had forfeited the protection of his private sphere through his own public statements and interviews concerning the relationship. Furthermore, the court noted a public interest in his conduct as the former head of the ORF regarding an employee.

While Weißmann’s legal counsel argued that the publication was ‘sensationalist’ and that his lawyer was merely defending against allegations of sexual harassment rather than disclosing intimate details, the court rejected these claims. The ruling is not yet legally binding, and a separate civil proceeding is scheduled to take place at the Vienna Commercial Court on September 7.