(Later note: this is an old entry. See later entries – via search box. My latest suggested translation is Legal Notice. A later entry, on October 12th 2003, gives the details of EU law as applicable in the UK).

German law requires webmasters to give their details online, so the person responsible for the site can be traced. Other details have to be added if applicable: a VAT number, number in the Commercial Register and suchlike.
This is called in German the Impressum.

It’s often combined with a disclaimer and a note on privacy.

Many people in Germany with bilingual sites like to translate the word Impressum into English, but that isn’t easy. The term normally refers to books (imprint) or newspapers (masthead), but neither of those terms is right online. On top of that, you don’t often see the words imprint or masthead written out in English, even in books and papers. However, the English versions of German sites bristle with mastheads, imprints and even colophons – a colophon usually describes the typeface used in a book.

Here are some legal details from the law firm Rechtsanwälte Sakowski, in Heidenheim (which I have spent a lot of time driving through). Continue reading →

(Later note: this is an old entry. See later entries – via search box. My latest suggested translation is Legal Notice. A later entry, on October 12th 2003, gives the details of EU law as applicable in the UK).

German law requires webmasters to give their details online, so the person responsible for the site can be traced. Other details have to be added if applicable: a VAT number, number in the Commercial Register and suchlike.
This is called in German the Impressum.

It’s often combined with a disclaimer and a note on privacy.

Many people in Germany with bilingual sites like to translate the word Impressum into English, but that isn’t easy. The term normally refers to books (imprint) or newspapers (masthead), but neither of those terms is right online. On top of that, you don’t often see the words imprint or masthead written out in English, even in books and papers. However, the English versions of German sites bristle with mastheads, imprints and even colophons – a colophon usually describes the typeface used in a book.

Here are some legal details from the law firm Rechtsanwälte Sakowski, in Heidenheim (which I have spent a lot of time driving through). Continue reading →

The ABA Journal reports that an Ohio court found money paid to litigants void as champerty and maintenance.

Champerty, says Dietl: Br Unterstützung einer Prozeßpartei (gegen Zusicherung eines Teils des Prozeßgewinns)
Maintenance: . unzulässige Unterstützung einer Prozeßpartei (od. beider) durch einen Außenstehenden (Am obs.)

British? American? Both are obsolete terms in both Britain and America, as far as I know.

Interim Settlement Funding Corp. is a law-loan company. It lent the defendant $6,000 in return for her later paying it $16,800 if the case was over within 12 months, and increasing amounts if it took longer.

She refused to pay – she paid back the $6,000 plus 8% interest. She then sued the companies, asking the court to find the contract void. Continue reading →

The ABA Journal reports that an Ohio court found money paid to litigants void as champerty and maintenance.

Champerty, says Dietl: Br Unterstützung einer Prozeßpartei (gegen Zusicherung eines Teils des Prozeßgewinns)
Maintenance: . unzulässige Unterstützung einer Prozeßpartei (od. beider) durch einen Außenstehenden (Am obs.)

British? American? Both are obsolete terms in both Britain and America, as far as I know.

Interim Settlement Funding Corp. is a law-loan company. It lent the defendant $6,000 in return for her later paying it $16,800 if the case was over within 12 months, and increasing amounts if it took longer.

She refused to pay – she paid back the $6,000 plus 8% interest. She then sued the companies, asking the court to find the contract void. Continue reading →

Via beSpacific, The American Society of International Law has created a database, EISIL, with a variety of information and links. It’s not all developed yet. Thus the section on Private International Law should have links to the Hague Conventions, but the links don’t work yet.
Under General International Law, the link to the Treaty of Westphalia does, though! There are also to be research guides. Looks promising.

Via beSpacific, The American Society of International Law has created a database, EISIL, with a variety of information and links. It’s not all developed yet. Thus the section on Private International Law should have links to the Hague Conventions, but the links don’t work yet.
Under General International Law, the link to the Treaty of Westphalia does, though! There are also to be research guides. Looks promising.