Erwin Kessler files suit against Ubi ruling in federal court

In 2011, Erwin Kessler wanted to commission a commercial from Swiss television. The film lasted seven seconds and consisted of a VGT logo and the words: "www.vgt.ch - was das Schweizer Fernsehen totschweigt". The commercial was rejected by Publisuisse on the grounds that it was damaging to business. Kessler, on the other hand, invokes freedom of expression and accuses Swiss television of systematically discriminating against him and his association against animal factories in reports. For example, his numerous revelations about abuses in factory farming and uncovered violations of the Animal Welfare Act are consistently boycotted. This, as Kessler writes in the complaint to the Federal Court, is not done for factual reasons, but for "private ideological and political motives of the SF employees".

In response to Kessler's complaint, the independent appeal body argued that the commercial was damaging to Swiss television's business and image. Kessler criticizesHe had not been given the opportunity to prove why the statement in the advertisement was correct and could therefore be made. Ubi also referred to SRG's argument that by broadcasting another VGT commercial, Kessler had accepted the rejection of the other one. The complainant in turn rejects this and refers to email correspondence that proves the opposite.