Von Hannover v. Germany [No. 1]
European Court of Human Rights
59320/00 [2004] ECHR 294 (2004)

- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
Caroline von Hannover (plaintiff) was the daughter of Prince Rainier III of Monaco. After German tabloids posted private pictures of von Hannover and her family, von Hannover filed suit for violation of her privacy. The pictures consisted of von Hannover at the beach, at a restaurant, playing tennis, shopping, and leaving her home, among others. The German Federal Constitutional Court ruled in von Hannover’s favor regarding three photos, which the court ruled were taken in a private, secluded setting. The court, however, ruled against von Hannover on several photos that the court determined were taken in a public setting. Von Hannover filed an application against Germany (defendant), alleging that the German courts violated her right to respect for her private and family life under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (the convention). Specifically, von Hannover claimed that the German definition of a secluded area was too narrow.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)
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