Germany's Federal Court of Justice has ruled that using crossed-out swastikas for anti-Nazi protests is not illegal.
The court in Karlsruhe overturned a lower court decision against Juergen Kamm, who had been convicted for reproducing Nazi symbols.
He is the owner of a mail-order internet site, who sold merchandise bearing crossed-out swastikas.
The law in Germany prohibits the reproduction of Nazi symbols except for educational and scientific purposes.
The court said that Mr Kamm, who is known for his left-wing views, had not violated the intent of the law and that there was no danger that the items he sold might be misused by neo-Nazi groups.
The initial verdict, imposing a 3,600-euro (£2,460; $4,770) fine and confiscating the merchandise, was widely criticised, including by the leader of the Greens, Claudia Roth.
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