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Object of dispute: Beekeeper Rico Heinzig stands next to a poster with Jan Böhmermann in January

Photo: Sebastian Kahnert / dpa

The legal dispute over honey advertising between TV satirist Jan Böhmermann and a Saxon beekeeper is moving to the next instance.

After the moderator sued and lost, his lawyers filed an appeal against the Dresden Regional Court's first ruling last week.

Beekeeper Rico Heinzig then started a fundraising campaign that raised more than 30,000 euros within a few days.

»Our Gofundme campaign is really going through the roof.

I wouldn’t have thought that!” said the beekeeper to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”.

The donation page states a goal of 20,000 euros for the costs of the legal dispute - which has now been significantly exceeded after three days.

“This fantastic result makes our minds glow about how we can use this money meaningfully for one or many good things,” wrote Heinzig on the platform.

Object of dispute: “Beewashing” honey

Böhmermann wanted to ban beekeeper and honey producer Rico Heinzig from Meißen from selling and advertising a “beewashing” honey with his name and face that was created after a broadcast on “ZDF Magazin Royale” in November 2023.

However, in February, a civil judge rejected the request for a ban as "unfounded" in her request for an interim injunction.

Heinzig had been named and shown without prior consultation in a report about companies that were engaging in “beewashing” as a form of greenwashing – a play on words between greenwashing and the English word for bees.

As a satirical reaction, the entrepreneur released a “beewashing” honey and advertised it in a Dresden supermarket with the name, picture and quotes from the show.

Heinzig refused to issue a cease-and-desist declaration from the other side - and Böhmermann then sued.

Heinzig commented on the development that the other side was playing for time, “they want to wear me down” until he runs out of money and patience.

Given the clarity of the first instance judgment, “I’m disappointed, that’s not a nice style.”

However, he won't give up.

"I'm not an argumentative figure, I'm purely in defense, and I don't have to advertise it." He won the first trial, "because of me it can stay that way."

In an interview with the “FAZ” the beekeeper justified the fundraising campaign: “With the appointment, my expenses will double and reimbursement of costs becomes a long way off.”

Remaining stocks under lock and key

From the civil judge's point of view, Heinzig had found "a suitable means" to deal with the case for a limited time in a satirical manner and clearly visible to the public.

The moderator must accept reactions from those who would be drawn into the spotlight and negatively affected by his contributions.

Before the verdict was announced, Heinzig had removed the “Beewashing” honey from its range in order to avoid a possible share of sales in connection with damages if the other side was successful.

According to the beekeeper, the remaining stocks of the disputed item remain under lock and key - until a final decision is made.

aeh/dpa