Running an online store is a balancing act. You want to focus on sales and branding, but legal requirements,especially those surrounding data privacy can’t be ignored. If you’re selling to customers in Europe, a Privacy Policy alone might not be enough.
To help you stay ahead of the curve, Consentmo has updated the cookie banner to include a dedicated Imprint Link on the first layer.
This small addition makes a massive difference in how transparent and professional your store appears to both customers and legal authorities.
Summary for Shopify Store Owners:
- What is an Imprint? A legal requirement to display business ownership and contact details.
- Who needs it? Any merchant targeting the EU/DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
- The Risk: Potential fines and legal "cease-and-desist" letters for non-compliance.
- The Solution: Create a "Legal Notice" page in Shopify and enable the Consentmo Imprint link feature to ensure it's visible on the first layer of your cookie banner.
- Benefit: Meets the "Two-Click Rule" and increases store credibility.
Why Transparency Matters
The "Imprint" (or Impressum) is a dedicated page on your website that provides a clear, verifiable identity for your business, ensuring that users know exactly who is responsible for the website's content and data processing.
By placing this link directly on your cookie banner, you are providing "direct and immediate access" - a recommended practice in European digital law.
Is Your Store Compliant? Who Needs an Imprint and Why
Understanding the legal landscape helps you avoid hefty fines and "Abmahnungen" (cease-and-desist letters) common in European e-commerce.
Who is required to have an Imprint?
If you are selling products, providing a service, or even running a blog with affiliate links, you are likely classified as a commercial entity. If your audience includes visitors from the EU - specifically the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). This requirement is non-negotiable, regardless of where your business is physically headquartered.
The Legal Framework
Let's go over some standards set by international digital laws:
- Germany (TMG § 5): The Telemedia Act requires that professional website owners provide easy, direct, and permanent access to their identity. Failure to do so can result in fines of up to €50,000.
- Switzerland (UCA Art. 3): Under the Federal Act against Unfair Competition, any person offering goods or services via e-commerce must state their identity and contact address clearly.
- European Union (E-Commerce Directive 2000/31/EC): This directive harmonizes transparency across the EU, requiring service providers to be easily identifiable to ensure consumer protection.
Regional Guide
Global Imprint Requirements for Online Merchants
| Region |
Requirement |
Mandatory Details |
| 🇩🇪 Germany (Impressum) |
Mandatory |
Full business name, physical address, email, phone, VAT ID, and registration number. |
| 🇦🇹 🇨🇭 Austria & Switzerland |
Mandatory |
Clear disclosure of ownership and contact details (similar to Germany). |
| 🇪🇺 Rest of EU |
Highly Recommended |
Under the E-Commerce Directive, service providers must be easily identifiable. |
The Proactive Solution: Making Your Imprint Page Instantly Visible
For many merchants, the most efficient way to handle these regulations is to create a dedicated "Imprint" or "Legal Notice" page directly within your Shopify admin (under Pages).
Once created, you need to link it in a visible, easily accessible place like your Footer. However, it is a good practice to make it as visible as possible in case your store undergoes an audit.
A good place is your Cookie banner as it is one of the first things your shoppers see once they land on your store.
Why on the Cookie Banner?
Most regulators enforce a "Two-Click Rule", meaning a user should never be more than two clicks away from your legal information.
By adding the Imprint link to your cookie banner, you make sure that the very first thing a visitor sees is a clear path to your business credentials, meeting the "immediate accessibility" requirement from the second they land on your home page.
How to Enable the Imprint Feature by Consentmo
We’ve kept the setup as simple as the requirement itself. You don't need any manual adjustments or extra code to stay compliant:
-
Head to your Dashboard: Go to Cookie Banner → Content.
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Toggle the Imprint: Switch the feature to "On."
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Link Your Page: Simply select your existing Imprint or Legal Notice page from the dropdown, or paste a custom URL.
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Save: Your banner will automatically update to show the Imprint link right next to your Privacy Policy.
Simplify Your Compliance with Consentmo
Staying compliant shouldn't be a hurdle to your store's growth. At Consentmo, we specialize in making complex privacy laws simple for Shopify merchants.
From automated cookie scanning to our new first-layer Imprint link feature, we provide the tools you need to stay protected in a global marketplace.
Ready to secure your store and boost customer trust?
Get Consentmo on the Shopify App Store and enable your Imprint link today.
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