Publisher sued

FPÖ may no longer use “Hotzenplotz the Robber”

The FPÖ is not allowed to use the image of the robber Hotzenplotz for political purposes. The publisher of the children's book had sued and has now been ruled right by the Supreme Court.

With the help of the well-known children's book classic by Ottfried Preußler, the Viennese Freedom Party had attempted to depict how Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) was taking money out of people's pockets through fees.

Publisher sued for copyright infringement
The mayor was depicted in the typical Hotzenplotz outfit with a large hat. The publisher, which holds the rights to the children's book, was annoyed by this and filed a lawsuit.

The Freedom Party argued in court that it was a parody. This was initially upheld by the Vienna Commercial Court, but in the second and third instance the publisher prevailed, as it had identified an infringement of copyright.