Swiss Court Orders Media Giant to Pay Damages in Landmark Privacy Case

Jolanda Spiess-Hegglin wins unprecedented lawsuit over profits from defamatory articles published by Ringier's 'Blick' newspaper.

Jolanda Spiess-Hegglin, a former Swiss Green Party politician, successfully sued Ringier for profits made from four articles violating her privacy rights.
The Zug Cantonal Court ordered Ringier to pay Spiess-Hegglin 459,582 Swiss francs, with additional costs bringing the total to 584,138 francs.
This case marks the first successful 'profit disgorgement' lawsuit in Swiss media history, setting a significant precedent for defamation and privacy cases.
The articles in question stemmed from a 2014 incident involving allegations of sexual misconduct, which led to years of intense and invasive media coverage.
Ringier plans to appeal the ruling, arguing that it poses a risk to press freedom, while Spiess-Hegglin's legal team hails it as a milestone for media accountability.