Berechtigtes

Berechtigtes is an attributive adjective form of berechtigt in German, used to indicate that something is justified, authorized, or entitled. It is commonly found before nouns and signals that a person or action has a legally or morally acceptable basis. The phrase berechtigtes Interesse is the most frequent collocation, meaning a legitimate or justified interest. Other common combinations include berechtigter Anspruch (legitimate claim) or berechtigter Vertreter (authorized representative). The term thus denotes that a claim, action, or right is properly grounded.

In legal contexts, berechtigtes serves to distinguish what is permitted or warranted from what is not. It underlines that a given power, claim, or action rests on a recognized basis, such as statutory authorization, contract, or fundamental rights. The exact meaning can depend on context and jurisdiction, and phrases may be subject to interpretation within applicable law.

In data protection law, the concept of berechtigtes Interesse is particularly prominent. In the European Union, it denotes a lawful basis for processing personal data under GDPR, where processing is allowed if it is necessary for the purposes of legitimate interests pursued by the data controller or a third party, provided these interests are balanced against the rights and freedoms of the data subject. This often involves safeguards, impact assessments, and the possibility for data subjects to object.

Etymologically, berechtigtes derives from berechtigen (to entitle or authorize). The form berechtigtes specifically corresponds to neuter singular nouns such as Interesse.