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Data Protection. February 2012 overview in : Italy, France, Germany.
Just before the new act regulating Europe, this is the state of the art for data protection related to direct marketing activities.
For b2b postal addresses opt-out applies everywhere.
For b2c postal addresses opt-out applies in Italy and France.
In Germany opt-in applies, except for data collecetd before September 2009, in case these have been collected from public sources, telephone dirctories or if data are used for oneself or for non-profit associations. Another deviation applies if the data source is reported in writing on the mailing. August 2012 will mark the end of the transition period and the opt-in regime will therefore apply for b2c mailing in Germany.
For telemarketing to consumers opt-out applies in France and opt-in in Germany.
Italy has a similar regime to Germany's, but it is possible to use DBU (telephone directories), on condition that these are verified and approved by the italian "Registro delle opposizioni" ( "Do not call registry").
For telemarketing to companies opt-out applies in France and presumed consensus in Germany, which allows for a limited number of direct calls to companies/divisions known or that may be known.
Italy has a similar regime to Germany's, but it is possible to use DBU (telephone directoires), on condition that these are verified and approved by the "Registro delle opposizioni" ( Do not call registry).
For e-mails opt-in applies everywhere when it comes to consumers.
Conversely, for e-mails to companies opt-out applies in France, whereas opt-in applies in Germany. Italy has a similar regime to Germany's, but the "Salva Italia" ("Save Italy") decree allows for a reasonable degree of freedom when it comes to processing of general corporate e-mails.