Internet and electronic commerce law in the European Union

Internet and electronic commerce law in the European Union:

This book outlines and analyses the legislative activity of the Union in an area which is currently experiencing exponential growth in terms of both commercial activity and legal significance. Modern electronic commerce involves all levels of company, from small-scale retailers to large multinationals. Buyers and sellers can gain access to goods and markets previously beyond their reach. Electronic commerce creates new problems for regulators, which European Community law has been trying to address for over a decade. The foundations of Community activity were laid in 1987 with the establishment of the TEDIS Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) programme, which had the objective of encouraging the use of EDI in trade. From this developed the range of activity which is surveyed in this book. . The scope of the book is current, pending and proposed Internet-related law on contracts, copyright, data protection, consumer protection, commercial communications, financial services, electronic cash, distance contracts and electronic signatures.

The author argues that the Union is in the process of displacing Member State autonomy in the regulation of the Internet. Within that frame, it is argued that there is a lack of focus on the individual in the electronic marketplace and a lack of co-ordination between relevant legislative instruments.

This book will be of interest to all those engaged with Union and Internet law, whether from an academic, commercial or policy perspective.