Case C-298/07

Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen und Verbraucherverbände – Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband eV

v

deutsche internet versicherung AG

(Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesgerichtshof)

(Directive 2000/31/EC – Article 5(1)(c) – Electronic commerce – Internet service provider – Electronic mail)

Summary of the Judgment

Approximation of laws – Electronic commerce – Directive 2000/31 – Supply of services via the internet

(European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/31, Art. 5(1)(c))

Article 5(1)(c) of Directive 2000/31 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the internal market must be interpreted as meaning that a service provider is required to supply to recipients of the service, before the conclusion of a contract with them, in addition to its electronic mail address, other information which allows the service provider to be contacted rapidly and communicated with in a direct and effective manner. That information does not necessarily have to be a telephone number. That information may be in the form of an electronic enquiry template through which the recipients of the service can contact the service provider via the internet, to whom the service provider replies by electronic mail except in situations where a recipient of the service, who, after contacting the service provider electronically, finds himself without access to the electronic network, requests the latter to provide access to another, non-electronic, means of communication.

(see para. 40, operative part)