Munich court rules Amazon misled customers about Prime Video ads

The Regional Court Munich I (Landgericht München I) has ruled in favor of the German consumer protection association in a case concerning Amazon’s announcement of advertising on Prime Video. The court found that an email Amazon sent to customers about upcoming changes to the streaming service earlier this year was misleading and did not provide sufficiently clear information.

According to the judgment, the notice sent by Amazon failed to make key facts transparent for consumers, prompting the consumer group to sue. The court sided with the plaintiffs and set a legal limit on how subscription services may communicate changes that affect users’ expectations about ad‑free access or the nature of the service.

What the ruling means

• Consumer protection win: The judgment reinforces that companies must be transparent when changing service terms or adding ads to paid offerings.
• Clearer communication required: Service providers should ensure notifications state precisely what will change, who will be affected, and how users can opt out or manage settings.
• Potential ripple effects: Other streaming platforms and subscription services may face increased regulatory and legal scrutiny over how they present product changes to customers.

Practical takeaways for users

If you received a notification from a streaming service about ads or other changes, check it for concrete details: timing of the changes, which accounts or regions are affected, and what control (if any) you have over opting out or modifying settings. Keep copies of important notices and consider contacting consumer protection bodies if the message seems unclear.

Next steps and appeals

Amazon may choose to appeal the decision, and any higher court ruling could refine the legal requirements for how companies communicate changes to subscribers. Watch for updated notices from Amazon and other services that may follow this judgment.

For general consumer guidance, see the German Consumer Association: vzbv.de.

Discussion: Did Amazon’s announcement about Prime Video ads seem misleading to you — and how clear do you expect subscription services to be when changing core features?