Best Advertising and Marketing Lawyers in Acharnes

About Advertising and Marketing Law in Acharnes, Greece

Advertising and marketing law in Acharnes follows the same national and European rules that apply across Greece, with local administrative steps for outdoor placements, events and permits. Key legal areas include consumer protection, data protection for direct marketing, intellectual property and trademark issues, rules for regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and alcohol, and limits on misleading or unfair commercial practices. Public-space advertising also requires municipal permissions and must respect local planning and heritage rules. Businesses and individuals operating in Acharnes must therefore balance national and EU legal obligations with local administrative requirements.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

Legal advice can help you avoid penalties, costly disputes and reputational harm. Common situations in which people seek a lawyer include:

- Drafting and reviewing advertising contracts and agency agreements to protect rights and allocate risk.

- Ensuring marketing campaigns comply with consumer protection laws and do not contain misleading claims.

- Managing data protection compliance for email marketing, SMS campaigns, profiling and cookies under the GDPR and Greek data protection rules.

- Addressing disputes with competitors over comparative advertising, trademark infringement or unfair competition.

- Handling regulatory issues for restricted sectors - for example, advertising rules for medicines, medical devices, food health claims, alcohol or gambling.

- Responding to investigations or enforcement actions by regulators or consumer protection authorities.

- Structuring and documenting promotions, contests, sweepstakes and influencer collaborations to meet legal requirements.

- Securing permits and approvals for outdoor advertising, signage, events or temporary promotional installations in Acharnes.

Local Laws Overview

The following summarizes the most relevant legal areas for advertising and marketing in Acharnes and more broadly in Greece. This is a high-level guide - specific cases may require detailed legal analysis.

- Consumer protection and unfair commercial practices - Greek law implements EU directives that prohibit misleading advertising and aggressive commercial practices. Claims about products and services must be truthful, substantiated and clear.

- Data protection and direct marketing - The EU General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR - applies to handling personal data for marketing purposes. Consent rules, legitimate interest assessments, transparency obligations, data security and rights of data subjects are central. Greek supervisory authority enforces GDPR locally.

- Intellectual property and trademarks - Use of third-party trademarks, copyrighted material, images and music in ads requires licenses and clearance. Trademark law protects brand names and logos from unauthorized use and confusingly similar marks.

- Sector-specific rules - Certain sectors face special advertising restrictions. For example, medicines and certain medical claims are tightly regulated by national health authorities; food and supplement claims must follow EU and Greek rules; alcohol and tobacco advertising face limits; gambling and betting advertising are regulated by national gaming authorities.

- Electronic communications and spam - Unsolicited commercial messages by email and SMS are regulated. Consent and opt-out mechanisms are often required, and telemarketing may have additional rules.

- Audiovisual media - TV, radio and online audiovisual advertising must comply with audiovisual rules, including protections for minors and limits on certain products.

- Local permits and planning - Outdoor advertising, billboards, banners and signage in Acharnes require municipal permits and must respect local planning regulations, public safety rules and heritage protection where relevant. Temporary promotions and street-level activities may need an event or business permit from the Municipality of Acharnes.

- Competition law - The Hellenic Competition Authority enforces rules against anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominance; advertising can raise competition issues where it contains false comparisons or exclusionary conduct.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need consent to send marketing emails or SMS in Greece?

Yes - in most cases you need a lawful basis under the GDPR. For direct marketing by electronic means, explicit opt-in consent is commonly required for consumer recipients. You must also provide clear information about who sends the messages and an easy way to opt out.

Can I use influencers to promote products in Acharnes without any special steps?

You can use influencers, but you must ensure transparency. Influencer posts that are commercial must make clear that they are paid or sponsored. Influencer agreements should specify deliverables, obligations on content accuracy, and compliance with advertising rules. If the product is in a regulated sector, additional restrictions may apply.

What happens if an ad is found to be misleading?

If an ad is misleading, regulators or consumer protection authorities can order its withdrawal or correction, impose fines or require consumer remedies. Competitors or consumers can also seek damages in civil court. Prompt legal review and remediation are important to limit exposure.

Are there special rules for advertising food or health claims?

Yes - health and nutrition claims for food and supplements must comply with EU and national rules and be supported by evidence. Claims suggesting disease prevention or treatment are generally prohibited for foods. For medicines and medical devices, advertising can be heavily restricted or subject to pre-approval by national health authorities.

Do I need a permit for a billboard or banner in Acharnes?

Yes - most outdoor advertising in public spaces requires a municipal permit. You should contact the Municipality of Acharnes to learn the local rules, zoning restrictions and application procedures. You may also need approvals related to traffic safety or heritage protection if applicable.

Can I use customer reviews and testimonials in my marketing?

Yes, but they must be genuine and not misleading. You should avoid fabricating reviews, selectively omitting relevant information that would change the impression, or presenting paid testimonials as unpaid without disclosure. Keep records showing authenticity if challenged.

How do I handle personal data when running targeted advertising online?

Targeted advertising often uses personal data or profiling. You must have a valid legal basis - usually consent for highly intrusive profiling - and provide clear privacy notices. If you use third-party platforms for targeting, ensure data-processing agreements are in place and assess cross-border data transfer safeguards if applicable.

What should be included in a marketing agency contract?

Key elements include scope of services, deliverables, intellectual property ownership or licenses, confidentiality, data protection obligations, fees and payment terms, warranties on compliance with laws, indemnities for third-party claims, termination rights and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Are there restrictions on comparative advertising in Greece?

Comparative advertising is permitted if it is not misleading and compares goods or services objectively on material, verifiable aspects. It must not denigrate a competitor unfairly or create confusion with the competitor s trade marks or trade dress.

Who enforces advertising rules and where can I raise a complaint?

Multiple bodies may be involved: consumer protection authorities, data protection authority, sectoral regulators for health or gambling, and competition authorities. Local municipal authorities handle outdoor advertising permits. Consumers can usually file complaints with the relevant administrative bodies or seek remedies in civil courts.

Additional Resources

When seeking more information or formal guidance, the following types of bodies and organizations are useful to consult:

- National data protection authority for GDPR and marketing data issues.

- Consumer protection agencies for rules on unfair commercial practices and consumer rights.

- Sectoral regulators - for example national health authority for medicines, food safety authority for food claims, and the national gaming regulator for gambling advertising.

- Hellenic Competition Authority for competition-related concerns.

- Municipality of Acharnes for permits and local rules on outdoor advertising, events and signage.

- National industrial property office for trademark and design registrations.

- Professional associations and industry bodies - marketing and advertising associations can provide best-practice codes and model contracts.

- Legal counsel with advertising, data protection and regulatory expertise for tailored advice and representation.

Next Steps

If you need legal assistance with advertising or marketing in Acharnes, consider these steps:

- Gather relevant materials - campaign copy, creative assets, contracts, consent records, and any communications with regulators or competitors.

- Identify the main legal issues - data protection, consumer claims, intellectual property, sector-specific restrictions, or municipal permits.

- Consult a lawyer experienced in advertising, marketing and regulatory law. Ask about their experience with similar cases, fees, and whether they can act quickly if enforcement or a deadline is involved.

- Put compliance measures in place - update privacy notices and consent mechanisms, get clearances for third-party content, document substantiation for claims, and use compliant contract clauses with agencies and influencers.

- If faced with a complaint or enforcement action, act promptly - stop non-compliant advertising, preserve evidence, and seek legal representation to negotiate with authorities or defend claims.

Taking proactive legal steps will reduce risk, help maintain trust with consumers and authorities, and support the success of your marketing activities in Acharnes.