E-Commerce Laws In The EU: A Guide For US Companies

The European Union (EU) is a lucrative market for many US-based e-commerce companies. However, selling to consumers in the EU requires compliance with a myriad of regulations and directives. This article highlights the most important laws related to e-commerce that US companies must be aware of when selling to European consumers.

E-Commerce Directive

The e-Commerce Directive serves as the foundational legal framework for online services in the EU. Some of its main provisions include the following:

Country of Origin Principle: service providers are subject to the laws of the EU country in which they are established, rather than where their services are accessed.

Liability Limitation: the directive limits the liability of intermediary service providers, for the information they transmit, store, or host, provided they act promptly to remove or disable access to illegal content once they become aware of it.