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.