Directive 2003/31/EC on Certain Legal Aspects of Information Society Services, in particular Electronic Commerce in the Internal Market

The Directive 2000/31/EC is usually called the e-commerce Directive, or the Directive on e-commerce. Although several other Directives deal solely, or at least for the greater part, with e-commerce topics (cf. the other chapters in this book), Directive 2000/31/EC regulates central issues regarding electronic commerce, e.g., commercial communications, formation of online contracts, and liability of intermediaries. Due to the coverage of e-commerce key issues the Directive is also known as the legal framework directive. All articles of the Directive are explained and commented upon.