Complaint falls short for Pocher, Becker successfully advances.
In a landmark ruling, former tennis champion Boris Becker has emerged victorious in his defamation case against TV comedian Oliver Pocher. The Higher Regional Court in Karlsruhe handed down the decision in November 2023, a ruling that has since been upheld by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH).
The case stemmed from images and sequences from Pocher's RTL show "Pocher – gefährlich ehrlich," which depicted Becker in a controversial manner. As a result, Becker was awarded a three-digit euro amount during the show, hidden in a supposed fashion prize, and was granted an injunction to prevent Pocher from distributing these controversial materials further.
Pocher was also ordered to delete relevant film excerpts from his own internet presence that had been published. In response, Pocher's lawyer, Patricia Cronemeyer, based in Hamburg, has expressed her intention to consider filing a constitutional complaint against the BGH's ruling, which confirmed the Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court's decision.
Cronemeyer believes the BGH's rejection of the non-admission appeal is unacceptable and that the decision violates constitutional principles. She argues that the BGH should have examined the case for legality and correctness, as the initial ruling in favour of Becker is seen as a significant infringement on Pocher's freedom of expression.
Notably, an appeal for donations under the slogan "Make Boris rich again" was started during the show, which has further fuelled the controversy surrounding this case. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the BGH has rejected Pocher's appeal against the refusal to take up the case for further review.
As the legal battle continues, the future implications of this case for freedom of speech and defamation in German media remain a topic of ongoing discussion and debate.
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