Overview
- The higher court affirmed a 2022 Cologne decision, granting Bild reporter Hans‑Wilhelm Saure access to the names of the first and second sellers.
- Judges ruled that the press’s informational interest outweighs confidentiality asserted by the second seller and the publicly funded foundation.
- Disclosure is to the journalist, with any subsequent publication left to editorial responsibility, the court underscored.
- The museum purchased the note in 2015 for €25,000 in public funds after an oral anonymity assurance to the second seller, and a parallel IFG case remains pending.
- A 2022 letter from the second seller cited past ties to DDR leadership circles and a wish to protect a quiet life as reasons for anonymity, which the court found insufficient to block access.