Am I allowed to use customer reviews from my competitors on my website?
October 9, 2022 | 35,00 EUR | answered by Georg Sauer
Dear lawyer,
My name is Paul Wolf and I run an online shop for electronics. Lately, I have noticed that some of my competitors are publishing very positive customer reviews on their websites. These reviews have a positive impact on customer trust in the products and services of the competitors.
Now I am wondering if I am allowed to use customer reviews from my competitors on my own website. Of course, I do not want to violate any applicable competition law or get into legal trouble.
Currently, I do not have any customer reviews on my website and I am therefore looking for ways to build customer trust and improve my competitiveness. Adding customer reviews from my competitors seems like a way to achieve this goal.
Can you please tell me if it is legally allowed to use customer reviews from my competitors on my website? What legal aspects should I consider and what risks could be involved? Are there alternative ways to build customer trust without using customer reviews from my competitors?
I look forward to your expert advice and thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Paul Wolf
Dear Mr. Wolf,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the use of customer reviews of your competitors on your own website. As a lawyer specializing in competition law, I am happy to assist you in answering your question thoroughly and providing you with legal support.
It is important to know that using customer reviews of your competitors on your own website can be legally problematic. Typically, customer reviews are protected by copyright as they represent a personal intellectual creation. Using these works without the permission of the author may constitute a violation of copyright.
Furthermore, the use of customer reviews of your competitors on your website could also constitute unfair competition, especially if these reviews are misleading or serve to deceive customers. Customer reviews should generally be authentic and honest in order to not abuse the trust of consumers.
To avoid legal issues, I recommend not using customer reviews of your competitors on your website. Instead, you could ask your own customers for reviews and publish them on your website. This way, you strengthen consumer trust in your products and services in a lawful manner.
There are also alternative ways to build customer trust without relying on customer reviews of your competitors. For example, you could provide transparent information about your company and products, offer a clear return policy, or ensure reliable customer service.
I hope that my legal assessment is helpful to you and I am available for any further questions. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need further assistance.
Sincerely,
Georg Sauer, Lawyer
