Overview

• Carlsen Verlag has declared that no fan-made Conni memes are approved and has issued cease-and-desist letters to alleged infringers.
• A Conni-Memes-FAQ published in June flagged racist, sexualized and violent versions as particularly objectionable and subject to legal review.
• Legal pressure led to the removal of a Conni-focused Instagram account with nearly 280,000 followers.
• Observers warn that enforcement efforts clash with §51a of the German Copyright Act, which explicitly permits distribution for parody.
• The publisher plans to seek judicial clarification on the parody exception as it defends its digital rights.