Court Rules in Favor of Till Lindemann, Upholds Publishing Contract

The Landgericht Köln determined that Kiepenheuer & Witsch's termination of its agreement with Lindemann was legally unjustified, affirming the validity of their contractual relationship.

• The Landgericht Köln ruled on April 11, 2025, that the publishing contracts between Till Lindemann and Kiepenheuer & Witsch remain valid and unbroken.
• The court found that the publisher's cited reasons, including a controversial video and allegations about Lindemann's personal conduct, did not justify terminating the agreement.
• Lindemann's provocative artistic style, which was central to the controversy, was acknowledged and accepted by the publisher at the time the contracts were signed.
• Public allegations against Lindemann regarding his behavior toward women were investigated but ultimately dismissed, with the court stating they could not serve as grounds for termination.
• The ruling reinforces the legal distinction between an artist's personal actions and their creative expression, emphasizing the contractual protection of provocative art.

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