Sensitive data should not be revealed on the internet. In some cases, though, it may seem unavoidable: Germany’s imprint obligation requires legal addressability, and many people use their private address for this purpose. But this is not a must. This article explains what is behind the imprint requirement and how it is possible to avoid including your home address in the imprint.

Who Needs an Imprint?

The simple rule of thumb is: If your web presence is not of a purely private nature, you are legally obligated to provide an imprint. In other words, if you want to earn money on the Internet or you regularly create content that contributes to the formation of opinion, an imprint is mandatory according to the German Telemedia Act (TMG) and it applies equally to websites, blogs and social media channels.

The intent to generate financial profit doesn’t just apply to online stores: Affiliate links and embedded advertising banners are enough to expose you to the requirement. The intent to inform via web content, meanwhile, applies to almost every blog, YouTube channel, Instagram account and TikTok profile. That means that a lot of people are required by law to provide an imprint – and face fines should they fail to do so. When it doubt, in other words, it is advisable to create an imprint.

What Must Be Included in the Imprint?

First of all, it is important that your full first and last name is included in the imprint. Neither pseudonyms nor abbreviations are valid.

If you are self-employed or have a registered business, you must also provide information about the legal form of your company and who represents your company externally. In addition, your commercial or association register and register number (if any) and your VAT ID number.

An additional mandatory piece of information for the imprint is a complete address: street, house number, postal code and city must all be listed.

Red Flag: Private Addresses in the Imprint

Many people are wary of revealing their private address on the internet for various reasons. One significant concern: Spambots could scrape your address and phone number and misuse your data. To avoid this, some website operators have integrated their imprint as an image file, but this is not allowed. The imprint must be readable by software for the vision impaired, which is not possible with an image file.

For many, though, especially influencers, privacy is even more important than possible data misuse. No one wants to suddenly have uninvited guests standing at their front door as a result of publishing a private address on the internet. What are some ways of solving that problem?

If you are not represented by an agency whose address you can enter in the imprint, thus foregoing the inclusion of your own private information, there is an easy answer: Simply rent a business address. By doing so, you can specify an address in the imprint that is not yours, but which fulfils the legal addressability requirement to have a summonable address.

A summonable address is an address at which you can be reached by post and to which official letters, such as a statement of claim or mail from public authorities, can be delivered. A P.O. box number or a mere email address is not sufficient since neither of them provide information about the real location of the owner. A summonable address must allow for court documents to be delivered to you personally (or to a person authorized to receive mail on your behalf, such as a reception desk).

A business address from Office Club in combination with the Office Club virtual office service meets this requirement. According to our understanding, the combination of virtual office and business address can function as a summonable address and can be used as a company domicile.

Solution: Rent a Business Address

A business address can be ordered online at any time and used as your new company address after a brief setup. We at Office Club offer this service - you can book your business address online here with just a few clicks.

Office Club business addresses also do not include a “c/o” addition. This means that your new address will be recognized as your own and cannot be interpreted as a shared address.

To turn your business address into a summonable address, all you have to do is supplement it with the services provided under our virtual office offering. At your business address location, our team will receive mail and forward it to you. In addition, we offer a scanning service: Mail is scanned immediately upon receipt and sent to you digitally. This ensures that you do not have to wait for important information and can take immediate action. We also offer an Infomail service: We inform you immediately by email about the sender of incoming mail.

Additional Advantages of a Business Address

A business address not only protects your privacy and serves as your summonable address. A business address is also an important factor for the professional representation of your company. It creates trust and contributes to a positive image without the need to pay expensive rent. From the perfect first impression (with optional company sign) to concentrated project work on site - Office Club offers you all these services at its various locations.

In summary: With a business address you protect your privacy in the imprint and at the same time ensure a maximum professional appearance. With Office Club you are at the right address for your business address. Book it directly here.