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ARTICLE · 22 JULY 2024

Digital, Commerce & Creative 101: Basics Of Consumer Law

Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
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Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin

Joint managing partners: Jo Farmer, Richard Miskella International offices: Dublin, Hong Kong...

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Businesses selling goods, services, or digital content in the UK must comply with complex consumer laws, including specific rules for different sales channels and products. Compliance is critical to avoid substantial fines under the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.

United KingdomConsumer Protection
Fleur Chenevix-Trench
Fleur Chenevix-Trench
Simon Entwistle
Simon Entwistle
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Businesses intending to sell goods, services or digital content to consumers in the UK will need to ensure they are doing so in a way that is compliant with UK consumer laws. UK consumer laws are complex and are set out in a number of different pieces of legislation, and so it is important to think carefully about what laws will apply and how.

We have set out below some of the key considerations when it comes to selling to consumers.

What are you selling, where are you selling it and who are you selling it to?

Who you are selling to

Firstly, businesses should consider who they are selling to. Where an individual is contracting as a consumer, they will benefit from extensive protections under UK consumer laws. The legal position and contracting rules that apply to business-to-consumer interactions are very different from those that apply to business-to-business interactions. It isn't always straightforward assessing whether you are dealing with a consumer or

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