Who can I send my newsletter to? Do I need written permission from the recipient?

Essentially, you need to be able to prove that the recipient has consented to receiving your email newsletter. 

How you obtained this permission is of minor importance (in writing, by phone or online form), as long as you can prove it in case of doubt. 

Only in some very specific cases is there a difference between private and commercial contacts (in short: when similar goods or services are being offered). See our blog post for more information.