In its judgment of 30 July 2026 (I ZR 130/25), the Federal Court of Justice ruled on seals awarded to doctors for a fee and advertised with terms such as “top physician”. Awarding such seals for payment is a commercial practice of the provider. Health-related test logos are subject to the strict standards of health advertising: if a logo suggests an objective quality test although its basis is limited, these limits must be apparent to patients.
The ruling is relevant beyond medicine, wherever rankings and awards are granted for a fee.
More: Reviews and test seals
