Overview
Removal of negative reviews
Deleting negative reviews is not easy. Negative comments are all the more annoying when they come as so-called “revenge ratings” or even as fake assessments have no relation to the real ones.
“The Cologne attorney for industrial property protection, Birgit Rosenbaum, partner at LHR’s law firm for brands, media, and reputation, knows how to defend against such online assessments: “There must be a distinction between, in principle, enforceable and non-enforceable claims. This includes the legal examination of the injunction or cancellation claim or even claims for damages, and the possibility of a short-term removal of the review. Only then should the strategy go ahead, with the aim to delete unwanted entries and comments!”
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When is a removal claim enforceable?
- The assessment is not true from an objective point of view
- You do not know the anonymous reviewer and the evaluation is not comprehensible
- You suffer economic or personal harm
- The rating is inappropriate
- The evaluation is economically motivated and is intended to harm business
If the revieweer does not delete his business or reputation damaging statements, and if he can not be compelled to delete the review by judicial means, then contact with those in charge or the publishing portal is recommended – of course, in out-of-court procedures, to save time and money.
Rosenbaum: “The portals are liable as so-called” interferers “and may be responsible for the business-damaging consequences of false or unfounded bad evaluations. Since these portals have no interest in lengthy and expensive legal disputes, the prospects for success good.”
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Poor ratings – how can we help you?
Large providers such as Google, Facebook, Twitter and also websites like holidaycheck.de or jameda.de have experienced legal departments. Rosenbaum: “It is difficult here. Our experience shows that it is best to make clean deletion applications. This is connected with the likelihood that one is also able to enforce the claim on the course of action. “Poor ratings can only be removed in the rarest cases without professional help.”
Clear JAMEDA ratings.
Risks of unprofessional action
Rosenbaum: “This rarely works and such an approach also carries risks. For example, Google recognizes the connections and the origins of counter-reviews and comments, and punishes so-called “irregular click behavior” which violate Google’s policies. Therefore, we advise against the use of such action.
If the reputation of a company or a person is compromised by systematic mis-judgment, then professional reputation management is recommended.
Contact us by e-mail or phone!
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