Herbert Grönemeyer sues CDU: Well-known song may not be used

Cologne - The CDU may not play Grönemeyer's "Mensch" at its party conferences

Cologne district court issues preliminary injunction

Because it had ignored his warning, singer Herbert Grönemeyer has obtained a preliminary injunction from the Cologne Regional Court against the use of his song "Mensch" by the CDU (Case No.: 28 O 443/21).

The CDU had announced that it would play the song at its upcoming party conference. Grönemeyer's lawyers had previously warned against this, arguing that the use of the song would violate their client's right of publicity and artistic freedom.

The CDU had argued that the song was "part of the social and political discourse" and that its use was therefore justified under freedom of expression.

The singer's lawyers maintain that Grönemeyer's artistic freedom and right of publicity outweigh the CDU's freedom of expression in this case.