I think this subject has been covered before but at least in the case of the Boeing line, the customer dictated the switch logic.
Most noteably was TWA who treated the overhead panels the same as the vertical FE panel, up was on, down was off. This logic exteneded beyond just the landing lights. TWA in turn did a lot of early work with Lufthansa when they started up operations in the Connies and early 707/727. I believe that LH used the same logic in their Boeing's as well. I flew a former LH 727-100 briefly and it was configured this way.