Best Advertising and Marketing Lawyers in Thivais

About Advertising and Marketing Law in Thivais, Greece

Advertising and marketing activities in Thivais operate under Greek national law and directly applicable European Union rules. This framework covers how businesses promote products and services across traditional media, digital platforms, outdoor spaces, and influencer channels. Core rules prohibit misleading or aggressive practices, require transparent pricing and promotions, protect personal data used for marketing, and impose sector-specific restrictions for sensitive products such as alcohol, healthcare products, and gambling. Local municipal rules in and around Thivais also affect outdoor signs, shopfront displays, and event promotions. If you plan to market to consumers located in Thivais or run a Greece-wide campaign that will reach local audiences, you must comply with both EU-level standards and Greek enforcement practices.

This guide is general information for people unfamiliar with the area. It is not legal advice. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified Greek lawyer with advertising and marketing experience.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

Launching or scaling campaigns often triggers legal questions. You may need legal help if you plan to run price promotions or seasonal sales, design comparative or aggressive campaigns against competitors, negotiate influencer, agency, or media-buying agreements, deploy email, SMS, or cookie-based targeting, collect or share customer data with ad-tech vendors, run prize draws, giveaways, or contests, make environmental, health, performance, or savings claims that require substantiation, use third-party content such as music, images, logos, or user content, advertise in regulated sectors such as alcohol, pharmaceuticals, supplements, gambling, or financial services, place billboards, shopfront signs, or banners that require local permissions, or face a complaint, takedown request, or investigation by regulators, consumer groups, competitors, or self-regulatory bodies. Early legal review can prevent costly reprints, takedowns, fines, or reputational harm.

Local Laws Overview

Core consumer and advertising rules. Greek Consumer Protection Law governs unfair commercial practices, misleading and comparative advertising, price reduction announcements, online marketplace transparency, and consumer rights for distance and off-premises sales. The Greek Unfair Competition Law prohibits practices contrary to honest commercial conduct, including misrepresentation and lookalike tactics. Comparative advertising is allowed if it is objective, verifiable, non-misleading, and does not denigrate competitors or confuse trademarks.

Pricing and promotions. Prices communicated to consumers must include all taxes and mandatory charges. When announcing a price reduction, Greek rules implementing the EU Omnibus Directive generally require display of the previous price applied for a period of at least 30 days prior to the reduction, with limited exceptions for newly marketed goods. Promotions must present material conditions clearly, such as eligibility, duration, stock limits, and any significant exclusions.

Data, cookies, and direct marketing. The EU General Data Protection Regulation and Greek e-privacy law apply. Non-essential cookies and similar tracking require prior opt-in consent that is specific, informed, and freely given. Pre-ticked boxes or bundled consent are not valid. Email and SMS marketing require prior opt-in unless the soft opt-in exception applies for existing customers for similar products, provided a clear opt-out is available at collection and in every message. Controllers must have a lawful basis, provide privacy notices, maintain records, and have appropriate vendor contracts.

Digital and e-commerce disclosures. The e-commerce rules require that commercial communications are clearly identifiable as advertising, and that the advertiser is identified. Online shops must present key information before checkout, including identity and contact details of the trader, total price including taxes and charges, delivery costs, main characteristics of the goods or services, right of withdrawal information where applicable, and terms and conditions.

Influencers and native advertising. Paid partnerships and any material connections must be made obvious to consumers at first contact. Labels should be clear and prominent, such as Ad or Sponsored, and should be in a language the audience understands. Hidden advertising or editorial content that is actually paid-for is prohibited.

Children and sensitive audiences. Marketing to minors must be especially careful. Practices that directly exhort children to buy or persuade parents to buy are prohibited. Age-gating, targeting controls, and content standards apply in digital and broadcast media. Sensitive categories such as health claims, alcohol, and gambling carry additional restrictions and scheduling rules.

Sector-specific restrictions. Tobacco advertising is broadly prohibited. Alcohol advertising faces content and placement limitations and should avoid targeting minors or associating alcohol with enhanced performance or social success. Medicines and many medical devices have strict rules overseen by the National Organization for Medicines. Prescription-only medicines may not be advertised to the public. Food, nutrition, and health claims must comply with EU nutrition and health claims rules and be substantiated. Gambling advertising is regulated and subject to content and placement restrictions by the Hellenic Gaming Commission.

Environmental and performance claims. Green claims must be truthful, clear, and substantiated with robust evidence. Avoid vague absolutes such as 100 percent eco-friendly unless you can substantiate the claim for the entire product life cycle. Comparative environmental claims require objective, verifiable criteria.

Promotions, sweepstakes, and contests. Publish clear terms that describe eligibility, start and end dates, how to enter, prizes, selection method, and how winners will be notified. Ensure prize promotions do not constitute illegal gambling, manage tax issues for prizes, and treat participant data in line with privacy rules. Avoid unfair practices such as creating artificial scarcity without basis.

Media-specific rules and municipal permits. Broadcast advertising is supervised by the National Council for Radio and Television with detailed content and scheduling rules. Outdoor advertising, billboards, shopfront signs, and street banners generally require municipal permission and must comply with safety and placement restrictions. In Thivais, always check local municipal by-laws before installing any structure or signage to avoid removal orders and fines.

Intellectual property and brand use. Using third-party trademarks, music, images, fonts, or user content requires the appropriate licenses or permissions. Comparative ads must avoid confusion with a competitor’s marks and trade dress. Agency and influencer contracts should clearly allocate IP ownership, usage rights, and moral rights waivers where permitted.

Language and clarity. Mandatory consumer information must be provided in a way local consumers can understand. If you advertise in a foreign language, ensure key terms, pricing, and conditions are clear to Greek consumers and do not mislead.

Enforcement and self-regulation. The Consumer Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Development can impose fines for unfair practices. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority enforces privacy rules. The National Council for Radio and Television supervises broadcast advertising. Greece also has a self-regulatory system through the Hellenic Advertising-Communication Code and its adjudication bodies, which can order modification or withdrawal of non-compliant ads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need permission to install a billboard or shopfront sign in Thivais

Yes, outdoor advertising typically requires municipal permission and must comply with safety, placement, and aesthetic rules. Before installing any structure or banner in Thivais, consult the local municipality to check permit requirements, prohibited zones, size limits, and applicable fees. Unauthorized installations risk removal and fines.

Are email newsletters opt-in or opt-out in Greece

Email marketing is generally opt-in. You need prior consent before sending promotional emails or SMS. A limited soft opt-in allows marketing to existing customers for similar products if you collected their details during a sale, offered a clear opt-out at collection, and include an unsubscribe option in every message.

What must an online shop show before a customer pays

You must display the trader’s identity and contact details, the total price including taxes and charges, delivery costs, the main characteristics of the goods or services, any delivery or performance restrictions, accepted payment methods, and information about the right of withdrawal where applicable. Terms and conditions should be accessible and clear.

How should influencers disclose paid partnerships

Disclosures must be clear, prominent, and immediate. The commercial nature of the content and the identity of the advertiser should be obvious at first contact. Use simple labels such as Ad or Sponsored in a way that viewers cannot miss, and ensure the disclosure travels with the content across platforms.

Is comparative advertising allowed in Greece

Yes, if it is objective, verifiable, and not misleading. You must compare like-for-like features, avoid disparagement, and not create confusion with a competitor’s trademarks or products. Hold evidence to substantiate claims before publication.

What are the rules for announcing discounts and sales

Announce price reductions transparently. Greek rules generally require showing the previous price that applied for at least the last 30 days before the reduction, with limited exceptions for new products. Do not inflate a reference price or hide material conditions such as limited stock or time-limited offers.

Can I advertise alcohol, tobacco, or gambling

Tobacco advertising is broadly prohibited. Alcohol advertising is allowed with strict content and placement restrictions and must not target minors or suggest health or performance benefits. Gambling advertising is regulated with specific rules on content, age restrictions, and placement. Always seek sector-specific advice.

What counts as misleading advertising

Any claim that deceives or is likely to deceive the average consumer about material matters such as price, characteristics, benefits, risks, or after-sales service is misleading. Omissions can also mislead. You must substantiate all objective claims with evidence available at the time of publication.

Do I need consent for cookies and tracking

Yes, for non-essential cookies and similar tracking technologies you need prior opt-in consent that is specific and freely given. Provide a clear, balanced choice and granular controls. Analytics and advertising cookies usually require consent. Essential cookies for core site functions do not.

Who handles complaints about ads in Greece

Consumer protection authorities can investigate unfair practices. The National Council for Radio and Television oversees broadcast advertising. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority enforces privacy and cookie rules. The Greek self-regulatory system can assess complaints under the Hellenic Advertising-Communication Code and may order modification or withdrawal of ads.

Additional Resources

Consumer Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Development and Investments for unfair commercial practices and pricing rules. Hellenic Data Protection Authority for GDPR and e-privacy guidance. National Council for Radio and Television for broadcast advertising standards. Hellenic Consumer Ombudsman for consumer dispute resolution. Hellenic Gaming Commission for gambling advertising rules. National Organization for Medicines for medicinal and healthcare advertising approvals and guidance. Hellenic Food Authority for food and nutrition claims. The Hellenic Advertising-Communication Code and the Communication Control Council for self-regulatory standards and copy advice. The local municipality in Thivais for outdoor advertising permits and signage rules.

Next Steps

Map your campaign. List all channels, audiences, and jurisdictions you will target in or around Thivais. Identify any sensitive sectors, promotions, data processing, or outdoor placements.

Collect materials. Assemble creative drafts, scripts, visuals, claims substantiation, media plans, influencer agreements, privacy notices, cookie banners, and promotion terms and conditions.

Run a legal pre-launch review. Ask a Greek advertising and marketing lawyer to review your claims, pricing displays, disclosures, targeting practices, contracts, and local permit needs. Address risks before publication.

Implement compliance controls. Set up claim substantiation files, consent management for cookies and email, approval workflows for influencer posts, and procedures to respond quickly to complaints or takedown requests.

Engage locally. For outdoor or event marketing in Thivais, contact the local municipality early to understand permit timelines and placement restrictions.

Monitor and update. Track changes in Greek law and EU guidance, especially on price reductions, online reviews, environmental claims, and privacy. Train staff and partners regularly.

If you receive a complaint or inquiry, pause the challenged campaign where feasible, preserve records, and seek legal advice promptly to manage deadlines and mitigate enforcement risk.