auflagen

Auflagen is a German term with multiple closely related meanings, depending on context. In publishing, an Auflage denotes a printing run or edition of a work. It is used to specify how many copies are produced in a given release and to distinguish between different versions, such as Erstauflage (first edition or first print run) and Folgeauflagen (subsequent print runs). An updated edition may be issued as a new Auflage after corrections or revisions. The size of an Auflage is a common indicator of a work’s market reach and can influence pricing, rights management, and library cataloging.

In administrative and legal contexts, Auflagen are conditions or requirements attached to permissions, licenses, or orders. Authorities may impose Auflagen that must be fulfilled to obtain or retain authorization—examples include environmental, safety, or accuracy requirements tied to permits, or specific obligations ordered by a court. Compliance with Auflagen is mandatory; failure to meet them can lead to penalties, revocation of the permit, or enforcement actions. In contracts and tenders, Auflagen describe performance criteria, eligibility conditions, or other obligations that must be satisfied to win or maintain an agreement or funding.

Originating from the verb auflegen, meaning to lay down or impose, Auflagen encompasses both the notion of edition counts in publishing and the idea of imposed conditions in legal and regulatory settings. See also Auflage (singular).