What Is an Abmahnung Under German Law?

An Abmahnung is a formal cease-and-desist letter used extensively in German legal practice, particularly in competition law (Wettbewerbsrecht) and intellectual property. Governed primarily by Section 13 of the Gesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb (UWG), an Abmahnung is a mandatory pre-litigation step before filing for an injunction (einstweilige Verfügung) or lawsuit.

The Abmahnung serves two purposes: it gives the alleged infringer an opportunity to resolve the matter without court involvement, and it shifts the cost risk — if the recipient immediately signs the requested cease-and-desist declaration (Unterlassungserklärung), the sender cannot recover court costs because no litigation was necessary.

Formal Requirements of a Valid Abmahnung

Under Section 13(2) UWG, a valid Abmahnung must contain:

  • Clear identification of the infringer: Full name and address of the recipient, plus identification of the specific infringing conduct.
  • Description of the infringement: Detailed description of the conduct claimed to violate competition law, with dates and evidence.
  • Legal basis: Reference to the specific provisions of the UWG or other laws allegedly violated.
  • Demand for cessation: A clear demand to cease and desist from the identified conduct.
  • Unterlassungserklärung: A pre-formulated cease-and-desist declaration with a penalty clause (Vertragsstrafe) that the recipient is asked to sign.

The Unterlassungserklärung (Cease-and-Desist Declaration)

The most critical element is the Unterlassungserklärung — a contractual undertaking by the infringer to cease the infringing conduct and pay a contractual penalty (Vertragsstrafe) for each future violation. Without this declaration, the sender can seek an injunction in court. The penalty clause must be “sufficiently deterrent” (Section 13(3) UWG) — typically EUR 5,001 or more per violation for commercial matters.

Cost Risks and the “Modified” Unterlassungserklärung

If the recipient agrees to cease but disputes the legal basis, they can issue a “modified” (modifizierte) Unterlassungserklärung — accepting the cessation demand without admitting liability and without accepting the full cost consequences. This is a common tactical response that can limit the recipient\'s cost exposure.

Under Section 13(3) UWG, the sender of an unjustified Abmahnung may be liable for the recipient\'s defense costs. This reciprocal cost risk discourages abusive Abmahnungen, a practice that was common before the “Gesetz gegen unseriöse Geschäftspraktiken” reforms of 2013.

Abmahnung vs. Court Injunction

If the recipient refuses to sign the Unterlassungserklärung, the sender can apply for a preliminary injunction (einstweilige Verfügung) under Sections 935-945 ZPO. These are often granted ex parte (ohne mündliche Verhandlung) within 24-48 hours in urgent competition cases, making the Abmahnung process extremely fast and powerful.