The European Community's Legislation on E-Commerce

Abstract

The European Community (EC) started several programs to foster e-commerce and the regulatory framework provided by the EC will have major impact on the way e-business is done in Europe. This paper investigates the current situation of the EC's legislation on e-commerce and related subjects. To give an example of "implemented law" the recent legislation on electronic signatures as well as the draft for a Federal Law on e-commerce in Austria are examined.

Keywords: European initiatives, codes of conduct, legislation, electronic money, electronic signatures, e-commerce directive, distance contracts, implemented Law