In November, 2000, the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) surprised the public by holding that the publisher's freedom of expression and press secured by Article 5 of the Grundgesetz (Basic Law) could be violated if the publication of advertisements was prohibited, provided the advertisement is included in the scope of protection itself. At that time shocking advertisements were being heavily discussed in the public. This public debate had been sparked, in part, by the Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice) decision prohibiting Stern Magazine's publication of advertisements containing repulsive pictures on behalf of the fashion and lifestyle brand Benetton. The magazine complained to the Federal Court of Justice against this judgment, an appeal that generated the dictum quoted above. In November, 2002, the Federal Constitutional Court had another opportunity to characterize the importance of the freedom of expression and the press in competition law, particularly in the context of the publishing industry.