New Legal Framework for E-commerce in Europe

This collection of essays by well known specialists drawn from academe and practice in e-commerce and Internet law, analyses recent crucial European legislation which attempts to set up a legal regime for e-commerce. The central focus is the key provisions of the EC E-Commerce Directive, as implemented in the UK in August 2002, thus far the most important European contribution to the development of e-strategy and e-business. After a scene-setting general overview of EU regulation of e-commerce, other areas covered include e-contracting, ISP liability, spam, country of origin regulation, and ADR. Further chapters discuss other new pieces of legislation in this domain, including the new Privacy Directive, the Distance Selling Directives, how disability legislation affects the web, the extension of VAT to online sales, and how DP legislation is being enforced on the web. In each case both the European framework and the rules as implemented in the UK are examined and critiqued for their efficacy in meeting the needs of business and consumers.