Is ad-blocking software legal?

So far, the answer is, "Yes," at least in Germany.

Despite its popularity with users, ad-blocking software is unpopular in some quarters: the advertisers & the people & organisations they pay for advertising. Some time ago, these pages reported on threats of legal action from Google, Microsoft & others against creators of ad-block software.

In fact, the first legal action against ad-block software creators has taken place in Germany, where a coalition of newspapers sued AdBlock Plus.

The newspapers lost, but are considering an appeal.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32409952

http://www.techworld.com.au/article/573230/making-software-block-annoying-ads-legal-german-court-rules/

http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/22/germany-likes-adblock-plus/

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2015/04/german-court-rules-that-using-ad-blocking-software-is-legal/ / software stops adverts appearing websites defeated two news publishers technology tech web pages Germany Germany's Die Zeit Handelsblatt AdBlock Plus's anti-competitive threatened their ability to make money income court in Hamburg ruled users have the right to use the plug-in judgement implications other disputes tool Hamburg court decision important sets a precedent avoid additional lawsuits expenses defending consumer right control screens block annoying ads protect privacy AdBlock Plus's project manager Ben Williams blog legalities publishers advertisers content creators work with Adblock Plus against us publishers fight on AdBlock Plus illegal anti-competitive practice infringes freedom of the press written reasons for the judgment examine the prospects of an appeals procedure AdBlock Plus Cologne firm Eyeo three separate but related cases media groups ProSiebenSat.1 RTL Interactive Axel Springer white list court case contested the legality AdBlock Plus's software suppressing adverts pages Zeit Online Handelsblatt Wirtschafts Woche news sites publishers sought damages challenge software provider's wider business model Ebba Schroder spokeswoman Zeitverlag Gerd Bucerius AdBlock Plus web browser add-on free makes money operating a "white list" adverts get through filters criteria must not include animations sounds pop-ups that cover other content Website operators white list buy their way onto the white list charge fees support services 30% of the extra revenues ads on its platform unblocked racket service popular many users AdBlock Plus downloaded nearly 400 million times charge fees smaller businesses and blogs block its white-listed ads if desired racketeers 90% of the people on the white list don't pay anything criteria ruling unalienable right online self-determination lawyer other European courts provisions of EU Law not bound to reach the same legal conclusions Paul Henty law firm Charles Russell Speechlys factual economic circumstances jurisdictions different result Hamburg judgment persuasive authority AdBlock disputes /