# What's the German Advertising Standards Agency called?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-german-advertising-standards-agency-called/50021>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 14, 2001, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-german-advertising-standards-agency-called/50021 "2001-01-14T20:08:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-german-advertising-standards-agency-called/50021/1 "2001-01-14T20:08:17Z")

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I need to know where to find some info on the rules in Germany on advertising for my German assignment. Can anyone help me out?

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-german-advertising-standards-agency-called/50021/2 "2001-01-14T20:13:49Z")

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According to a State Department document in 1998, this is what DOS advises about advertising in Germany

> [@](#):
>
> Besides exhibiting at a German trade fair, in most cases  
> advertising is considered a suitable promotion method.  
> Regulation of advertising in Germany is a mix between judicial  
> rules and voluntary guidelines developed by the major industry  
> associations. Legal rules were established at the beginning  
> of the 20th century by the “Law Against Unfair Competition.”  
> This law continues to be valid today, although it has been  
> modified over time. In essence, this law allows competitors  
> to bring suit if advertising “violates good manners.”
> 
> Many advertising practices that are common in the United  
> States, such as offering premiums, would not be allowed in  
> Germany. Any planned advertising campaigns should be  
> thoroughly discussed with a potential business partner or an  
> advertising agency in Germany. Following is the address of  
> the German association of advertising agencies:
> 
> Gesamtverband Werbeagenturen e.V.  
> (German Association of Advertising Agencies)  
> Friedensstr. 11  
> 60311 Frankfurt a.M.  
> Telephone: [49][69] 235096  
> Telefax: [49][69] 236883

I would imagine that the EU probably has some regulations as well.

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**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-german-advertising-standards-agency-called/50021/3 "2001-01-14T20:23:36Z")

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I’m mainly doing TV advertising. I should have said.

Does this German Association of Advertising Agencies have a site?

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**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-german-advertising-standards-agency-called/50021/4 "2001-01-14T21:32:12Z")

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Anyone?

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**Author:** ![Reverend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac8455/32.png) [@Reverend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverend)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-german-advertising-standards-agency-called/50021/5 "2001-01-14T21:43:57Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by IJGrieve \*  
> \*\*Does this German Association of Advertising Agencies have a site? \*\*

yes : [http://www.gwa.de/](http://www.gwa.de/)  
you might want to try the english version :  
[http://www.gwa.de/english.html](http://www.gwa.de/english.html)

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**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-german-advertising-standards-agency-called/50021/6 "2001-01-14T22:14:06Z")

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🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-german-advertising-standards-agency-called/50021/7 "2001-01-14T22:19:26Z")

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Actually this is only partly what I’m after. I’m looking for the regulatory body for TV advertising in Germany.