Document background
The Defamation Warning Letter (Abmahnung wegen Verleumdung) is a crucial legal instrument in German law used when an individual or organization has been subject to false statements that damage their reputation. It serves as a formal prerequisite before initiating court proceedings, demonstrating an attempt to resolve the matter amicably. The document should be used when there is clear evidence of false statements being made that harm one's reputation, whether personally or professionally. It must include specific elements required under German law, such as precise details of the defamatory statements, proof of their falsity, and clear demands for cessation. The letter typically includes a pre-formulated cease and desist declaration (Unterlassungserklärung) for the recipient to sign, and must comply with requirements set forth in the German Civil Code (BGB) and Criminal Code (StGB).
