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Eventim's Aggressive Insurance Tactics Banned by German Court
In a significant victory for consumer rights, the Bamberg Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Germany has banned ticket platform Eventim from employing aggressive tactics to push ticket insurance. The ruling, a partial win for the German Federation of Consumer Organizations (vzbv), highlights the growing legal scrutiny of "dark patterns" – manipulative website designs intended to pressure users into unwanted purchases. The case underscores the importance of fair online practices and consumer protection.
Eventim's Repeated Insurance Prompts Deemed Illegal
Eventim's website initially presented ticket insurance prominently in the shopping cart. However, even if a user ignored this offer, a pop-up window repeatedly insisted on the purchase of insurance, warning of the potential “hassle and frustration” of missing an event due to unforeseen circumstances and the potential loss of the ticket price. Only by clicking "I bear the full risk" could users proceed to checkout without insurance. The court deemed this second prompt a violation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and competition law, stating that it created undue pressure and fear of total financial loss, even misleadingly implying a loss of money even if an event were cancelled by the organizer.
The Court's Decision and Eventim's Financial Performance
While the court allowed Eventim to offer insurance in the shopping cart initially (as it was easily identifiable as optional), the repeated prompting was deemed unacceptable. Eventim's argument that it was merely “reassurance” failed to convince the judges. Notably, the OLG decision isn't final, as an appeal to the Federal Court of Justice is possible. Despite this legal setback, Eventim reported record revenue of €2.809 billion in 2024, a 19.1% year-over-year increase, driven by strong organic growth and several acquisitions, including See Tickets and Latin American ticketing companies.
| Metric | 2024 Result (€ million) | YoY Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 2809 | 19.1 |
| Adjusted EBITDA | 542.2 | 21.9 |
| Ticketing Revenue | 879.9 | 22.7 |
| Live Entertainment Revenue | 1971 | 17.6 |
Looking Ahead
This ruling sends a strong message to online businesses employing manipulative tactics. While the outcome of a potential appeal remains uncertain, the decision emphasizes the increasing importance of ethical website design and respect for consumer autonomy in the digital marketplace. For Eventim, the long-term impact remains to be seen, but the case highlights the potential risks associated with aggressive sales practices.
