Turkey Sets Legal Framework For Online Consumer Subscriptions

Recent development

Pursuant to the new Consumer Protection Law, on January 24, 2015, the Turkish Ministry of Customs and Trade issued its Subscription Agreements Regulation, setting out the legal framework for consumer subscriptions. The Regulation imposes new obligations on companies providing products and services to consumers by subscription, such as online subscriptions for content through the internet.

What the new rules say

Under the Regulation:

• while subscription agreements can be executed either in writing or electronically, the executed agreement must be provided to the consumer on paper or a permanent data carrier (e.g., CD, USB disc, email);
• subscription agreements must be written in at least 12-point type, in a clear, easily understandable and legible manner, and must contain certain minimum mandatory content;