A new legal notice warning is circulating and affects almost every website operator. The reason is the shutdown of the EU ODR (Online Dispute Resolution) platform on July 20, 2025. The old mandatory notice is now prohibited and must be deleted. At the same time, the notice according to the VSBG (Consumer Dispute Resolution Act) for national dispute resolution remains mandatory. Act now to avoid expensive warnings. This guide shows you how to quickly and legally correct your imprint + recommendation for correct legal texts.
Imprint Warning 2025: Remove ODR Platform Online Dispute Resolution & Correctly Adjust VSBG Notice
Imprint Obligation 2025: Why you must act now to avoid a warning
A small line in the imprint, which was mandatory for years, has overnight become an expensive warning trap. As of July 20, 2025, the EU platform for online dispute resolution (ODR platform) has been shut down. Anyone who does not remove the old notice from their imprint risks legal consequences.
This guide shows you step by step how to legally adapt your imprint, which wording you must delete, and which notice according to the Consumer Dispute Resolution Act (VSBG) is still mandatory.
What happened? The end of the ODR platform and the consequences for your imprint
Every online retailer knows it – the mandatory notice about the EU's ODR platform. It usually looked like this: "The European Commission provides a platform for online dispute resolution (ODR): https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr…"
Since this platform was hardly used, the EU has officially shut it down. The consequence for you as a website operator is clear: referring to a non-existent service is misleading to consumers. This constitutes a violation of the Act Against Unfair Competition (UWG) and opens the door to warnings.
Your concrete recommendation for action: How to avoid the imprint warning
To be legally on the safe side, you must immediately and completely remove the outdated notice.
Troubleshooting Checklist:
- Check Imprint: Locate the paragraph regarding the OS platform and delete it completely.
- Review Terms and Conditions: The notice is often also included in the General Terms and Conditions. Remove it there as well.
- Other Documents: Check email templates, signatures, and invoice documents for the old link and text.
Attention: This notice regarding dispute resolution must remain in the imprint!
Important: The abolition of the OS platform does not mean that all references to dispute resolution are removed. The German information obligation according to § 36 VSBG (Consumer Dispute Resolution Act) remains unaffected.
You must continue to inform your visitors whether you participate in a dispute resolution procedure before a German consumer arbitration board. For most entrepreneurs who are not willing or obliged to do so, a clear notice to that effect is a legal requirement.
The best wordings for the VSBG notice 2025
The notice of non-participation must be clear and understandable. The following wordings are tried and tested and legally sound.
Option 1: The secure standard
„We are not willing or obliged to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.“
This wording is the gold standard – short, precise, and legally sound.
Option 2: The elegant and formal solution (recommendation)
The [Your Company Name] is neither willing nor obliged to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.
This version appears particularly professional, directly names your company, and is stylistically high-quality.
Option 3: With legal reference
Note pursuant to § 36 VSBG: We are neither willing nor obliged to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.
The direct reference to the paragraph creates maximum transparency and legal clarity.
For further reading and recommendation for legal texts for your website and online shop: it-recht-kanzlei.de/entfernung-informationen-os-plattform
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Conclusion: Update your imprint now and be safe
The change is small, but the impact is big. Take five minutes to update your imprint and your general terms and conditions.
- Remove the outdated reference to the OS platform.
- Keep the reference to non-participation in national consumer arbitration (VSBG) and check its wording.
This way, you effectively protect yourself from unnecessary and expensive imprint warnings and ensure that your legal texts are up to date.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about the Imprint Change 2025
1. Do I really have to delete the reference to the ODR platform?
Yes, absolutely. Since July 20, 2025, the EU ODR platform has been shut down. A link or reference to it is therefore misleading to consumers, as the service no longer exists. This can be considered a violation of competition law and result in a warning. Removing it is therefore not an option, but an obligation.
2. Is it enough to just remove the link to the ODR platform?
No, that is not enough. You should delete the entire paragraph referring to the OS platform without replacement. This includes the sentence „The European Commission provides a platform for online dispute resolution (OS)…“ as well as the link itself. An incomplete notice can also be considered misleading.
3. What is the difference between the OS platform and the VSBG notice?
The OS platform was an EU-wide online contact point for disputes arising from online contracts (now shut down). The notice according to the VSBG (Consumer Dispute Resolution Act) is a purely German obligation. It informs whether you participate in a procedure before a national German consumer arbitration board. The abolition of the OS platform has no influence on the obligation to provide the VSBG notice.
4. Am I, as a small business owner, also affected by this change?
Yes. The imprint obligation and the information obligations according to the VSBG generally apply to all entrepreneurs who operate a website or use general terms and conditions and address consumers. The size of the company or the small business regulation according to § 19 UStG plays no role here. You must also adjust your imprint.
5. Which wording for the VSBG notice is the safest?
If you are not obliged to participate in arbitration proceedings and do not participate voluntarily, the following wording is one of the safest and most widely used: „We are not willing or obliged to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.“ A stylistically also very good and legally secure alternative is: „The [Your Company Name] is neither willing nor obliged to participate in a dispute resolution procedure before a consumer arbitration board.“
Also important since mid-2025 for almost all website and shop operators – Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG):
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes only and does not replace individual legal advice. For a binding review, please consult a lawyer.
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