Imprint / Legal Notice
In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and some other EU countries, an Imprint (“Impressum” in German) or Legal Notice is a legal requirement for websites, including personal or portfolio sites.
Required Information
- Full legal name of the site owner
- Physical address (not a P.O. Box)
- Contact email (and sometimes a phone number)
- If applicable: Commercial registration, VAT ID, regulatory authority (for business sites)
- For freelancers: Freelance registration (if required by local law)
- For teams/companies: Authorized representative’s name
Sample Imprint / Legal Notice
Website owner:[Your Full Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Postal Code, City, Country]
Email: [your contact email]
(Optional) Telephone: [your phone number, if desired or required]
This website is a personal portfolio and does not constitute a commercial offering.
If you operate as a company or freelancer: Add registration number, VAT ID, and authorized representative as required by law.
Placement
- Link the Imprint/Legal Notice clearly in the footer or header of every page, labeled as “Imprint” (German: “Impressum”) or “Legal Notice”.
Summary
- In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and similar EU jurisdictions, an Imprint is legally required.
- In most other countries, this is not required for personal/non-commercial sites.