German Court Rejects Attempt to Ban Christoph Peters' Novel
Hamburg court upholds artistic freedom in dismissing claims that the book violated a gallery owner's personal rights.
- The Hamburg Regional Court denied a request for an injunction to ban Christoph Peters' novel 'Innerstädtischer Tod,' citing the primacy of artistic freedom over alleged personal rights violations.
- The lawsuit was filed by Berlin art dealer Johann König and his wife, who claimed to recognize themselves in the fictional characters Konrad and Eva-Kristin Raspe.
- The court ruled that while some readers might draw parallels between the plaintiffs and the fictional characters, this alone does not constitute a violation of personal rights.
- The decision highlights the novel's fictional nature and rejects comparisons to past cases like 'Esra,' where personal experiences were directly depicted.
- The legal dispute has drawn significant public attention, boosting sales of the book and sparking discussions on the balance between creative expression and personal rights.