Legal representatives of SC Laminor Arena Expo Events SRL have requested the right of reply in response to the article Storm brews over Oktoberfest in Romania. Munich city hall denies granting permission considers legal action.
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This statement was sent to Universul.net “regarding the denigrating article on the alleged lack of the license “Oktoberfest” by the lawyer and Professor, Șerban Mihnea-Andrei.
As a lawyer and professor of consumer protection, as well as a conventional representative of SC Laminor Arena Expo Events SRL, I consider it necessary to publicly clarify the situation generated by the article recently published on the Universul.net platform. The article falsely claims that the Munich City Hall did not grant a license for the use of the “Oktoberfest” trademark in Romania.
The published statements are untrue and contradicted by official documents, since the company I represent holds the license issued and signed by the competent authorities in Munich, which is also demonstrated by the official notification sent to the editorial office.
The legal reality is one: the license is valid, legally obtained and confers exclusive rights of use for the year 2025
The publication of an article stating the opposite has generated a chain of immediate negative consequences, both for the organizers and for the public, and as a consumer protection specialist, I emphasize that such disinformation directly affects the public’s perception and trust – an essential component for any large-scale cultural event.
Consumers have the right to accurate, verified and complete information, and articles that convey false information about the authenticity and legality of an event can distort decisions and create undue confusion. In this case, many participants looked at the organization of the festival with suspicion, being misled by information devoid of any factual basis.
The negative effects were not limited to the relationship with the public, and at the time of the article’s publication, our partners, sponsors and collaborators requested urgent explanations and additional documents to ensure that the claims in the press are unfounded.
All these steps — non-existent in the absence of the article — generated operational delays and imposed an additional effort on our part, consuming resources and time that should have been dedicated exclusively to organizing the event. This artificial disturbance represents actual harm, caused solely by the publication of unverified information.
Moreover, the image of SC Laminor Arena Expo Events SRL was directly affected by the company’s association with the idea of unauthorized use of an international trademark. In the current social context, reputation is an essential attribute of any commercial entity, and such an insinuation can cause damage that is difficult to repair, including in the long term.
An aggravating circumstance is the fact that false information has spread in the online space, where articles remain accessible and can continue to influence the public’s perception even after the reality has been clarified.
This persistence of erroneous information represents a major risk for any economic operator and, in our case, has unfairly affected a project built on transparency and legality.
The confusion generated also had an impact on the two “Oktoberfest” events organized in Brasov and Bucharest, as the article suggested the existence of a tense or lawless situation in relation to the German institutions.
None of the organizers of these events benefited in any way from the material, on the contrary, it created suspicion among the participants, fueled unfounded discussions and affected the unity of a festive brand appreciated by the general public.
From a legal perspective, this case represents a concrete example of the importance of rigor in the journalistic act, as freedom of expression does not exempt the press from the obligation to verify information before publication.
When an article affects the legitimate rights and interests of a person or company, including the right to image and commercial reputation, editorial responsibility cannot be ignored.
We mention that Romanian and European legislation protects the reputation and prohibits the spread of denigrating or false information, precisely to prevent such situations that can create significant damage in the socio-economic environment.
In the name of truth and fairness, I reaffirm that the license exists, is authentic, valid and has been obtained in accordance with the rigors of the law and all the procedures necessary to grant it.
The events organized by SC Laminor Arena Expo Events SRL, including “Oktoberfest Brașov” and “Oktoberfest Bucharest”, comply with all legal norms and all commitments assumed, both towards the Munich authorities and the Romanian authorities, as well as towards the Romanian public, our sponsors and partners. I believe it is essential that the public has access to real and complete information, and that any inconsistencies are corrected in the interest of consumers and all the actors involved.
In the spirit of transparency and respect for the public, I will continue the legal steps necessary to ensure the correct information of consumers and the protection of the reputation of the company I represent. It is my professional and moral responsibility to combat disinformation and to help maintain a public climate in which truth prevails.
Șerban Mihnea-Andrei
Lawyer & Professor of Consumer Protection
Representative of SC Laminor Arena Expo Events SRL
