Purpose of the classification: different legal treatment

• material loss

• damage to legally protected interests (property, life, health, freedom, ...)

• pure economic loss

immaterial damage

• Mainly: pain (including mental pain)

• Impairment of privacy (data protection violation)

Positive (actual) damage or loss of profit?

• Positive damage: actual loss suffered to the claimant’s assets.

• loss of profit: injuring party prevents the possibility of earning money in the future