Is Lidl Plus Really Free? Case Goes to Germany’s Federal Court (BGH)

The Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv) has appealed to Germany’s Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) over Lidl’s claim that its Lidl Plus app is “free.” The consumer group argues that users effectively “pay” with personal data when they use the app to obtain discounts and offers.

Background

• Previously, the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht Stuttgart) dismissed the vzbv’s complaint, but the case was allowed to proceed to the BGH due to its broader legal importance.
• The central question is whether labeling the app as “free” is misleading when users must disclose personal data in exchange for benefits.

Why this matters

The BGH’s decision could set an important precedent about how companies must disclose data collection and whether “payment” with personal information should be treated the same as monetary payment under consumer-protection law. A ruling for the vzbv could force clearer disclosures across many digital services marketed as “free.”

Read more

For the consumer association’s statement and further details, see the vzbv page: https://www.vzbv.de/

Notes

• No directly related product links were found (no Amazon product to link with an affiliate tag).
• We have removed any RSS-only links and kept authoritative news and consumer organization pages.

What do you think — should apps that collect user data be advertised as “free”? Share your thoughts below.