Bundesgerichtshof havde i første spørgsmål spurgt, om kravet om skriftlighed i konventionens artikel 17, stk. 1, er opfyldt, når en værnetingsaftale indeholdes i almindelige for retningsbetingelser, som er trykt på bagsiden af et af begge parter underskrevet kon traktsdokument.
The Bundesgerichtshof had asked in the first place whether a clause conferring jurisdic tion which was included among general conditions of sale printed on the back of a con tract signed by both parties fulfilled the requirement of a writing under the first paragraph of Article 17 of the Convention.