Overview
- The Haus der Geschichte ended its challenge and gave the sellers’ names to the requesting Bild reporter.
- The foundation identified Thomas S. as the first seller and Uwe K. as the second, who sold the note to the museum in 2014 for €25,000.
- Administrative courts in Cologne and at the Higher Administrative Court in North Rhine-Westphalia had ruled for press access, and the museum said a further appeal was unlikely to succeed.
- The foundation will also withdraw its separate Freedom of Information Act appeal, which closes all proceedings related to the note.
- Judges found that the press’s right to information outweighs confidentiality promises to private sellers, a ruling that could change how public museums seek sensitive acquisitions.