German Court Curbs Exhibitor Directory

Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 3/21/2005

A German court has ruled that an Austrian producer of exhibitor directories can't solicit information from exhibitors unless it reveals it doesn't have trade fair managers' permission.

The court in Karlsruhe said Construct Data violated unfair competition laws after an unidentified German show organizer sued to stop it from sending exhibitors what the organizer considered misleading registration forms. German law permits plaintiffs to remain anonymous.

Last June, a judge in Chemnitz, Germany, ruled that an exhibitor who signed and returned Construct Data's registration forms wasn't under obligation to pay for the listings because the forms were misleading.

Claiming that the Karlsruhe case was ongoing, Construct Data General Manager Bruce Gaston said, "We have grounds for optimism as to its outcome and are continuing to do business all over the world, including in Germany."

However, Silvia Bauermeister, an attorney for AUMA (the Assn. of the German Trade Fair Industry) said that Construct Data can't appeal the Karlsruhe court's judgment. Unless Construct Data was referring to a different proceeding, she added, the information it provided on the case "is simply not accurate."

She noted that the Karlsruhe decision could affect all German fairs since it applies to all of an event's exhibitors. Other German organizers are likely to start proceedings against Construct Data to protect their exhibitors, she said.

However, Bauermeister added, the rulings may not completely stop Construct Data, which operates globally, since the court decision only applies to trade fairs in Germany.

Joachim Schafer, president of Hannover Fairs USA, said it is common for independent service providers to copy exhibitor lists, then try to use them to sell services or products while acting as if they represent trade fair managers.