The EU Geo-Blocking Regulation takes effect on 3 December 2018 and
introduces new rules designed to open up markets across the EU and restrict
discrimination against customers based on their location – i.e. in another
EU member state.
Geo-blocking generally refers to traders denying users located in other
member states access to their websites. It can also refer to the situation
whereby a website is accessible, but a transaction cannot be completed.
This can also apply offline; however, this particular update focuses on our
e-commerce templates.
At first glance, the Geo-Blocking Regulation may appear to be quite
onerous; however, in many cases the requirements of the Regulation amount
to little more than good business practice.
It is also important to note that the Regulation covers cross-border
transactions between traders and customers based on general terms and
conditions rather than individually negotiated terms or agreements. This
means that while it does apply to both B2C and B2B transactions in the same
manner, it is not designed to impose restrictions on the negotiation of
contracts – something more common in B2B situations.
Make Your Website Accessible Everywhere
An important part of the Regulation prohibits the blocking of access to
websites and re-routing (e.g. a German user visits a .co.uk site
and is automatically re-routed to the .de version) without
consent. This is a common practice and, it might be argued, quite a
convenient one in many cases. Nevertheless, the Regulation says otherwise.
A key reason behind this is to increase transparency where pricing is
concerned. Will the German customer in the example actually want to buy
from a trader’s UK store rather than the German store? Probably not; but
they might be interested to see how prices compare.
So, Do I Have to Sell Everywhere Now?
No.
The Regulation is designed to prevent discrimination; but this should not
mean drastic changes to your business model. You are free to decide, in
principle, where you operate. In essence, the Regulation prevents you from
discriminating against a foreign customer wanting to buy from you under the
same conditions as a local one. It is not designed to force you to start
offering your goods and services in markets that you didn’t before.
Goods
There is not an obligation to start selling across the EU, and you can
still limit your deliveries to the UK. What the Regulation does do is
prohibit you from discriminating on the basis of a customer’s nationality,
residence, or establishment when selling. If our aforementioned German
friend, then, wants to buy your goods via your website, she can; but you do
not have to deliver them to Germany if this is not an option you offer. She
can come and collect them from your premises (if this is an option
you offer), or she can organise delivery herself.
Services (Electronic)
If you provide services electronically (e.g. cloud services or website
hosting), customers from other member states are entitled to buy those
services in the same way as a local customer. A customer located in Poland,
therefore, is just as entitled under the Regulation to use your services as
one located in Portsmouth.
Services (Physical)
If your services are of the ‘offline’ or ‘real-world’ variety, the
situation is somewhat different. The Regulation does not require you to
physically move in order to provide services at the customer’s location.
Digital Content
When it comes to the provision of non-audiovisual copyright-protected
content services (e.g. e-books, online music, software, and computer
games), the non-discrimination provision of the Regulation – i.e. the
obligation to allow customers from other member states to access and
benefit from the same offers as local customers, does not apply. Other
rules in the Regulation, however, such as the blocking of access to
websites and re-routing without the customer’s prior consent (and
payment-related discrimination) already apply.
As for audiovisual services, these are excluded from the scope of the
Regulation.
Other Exceptions?
A number of other important services are excluded from the scope of the
Regulation, including transport and retail financial services.
What About Pricing and Payment Methods?
The purpose of the Regulation is to prevent discrimination, not to regulate
pricing. You are therefore free to set different prices, for example, on
websites targeting different customer groups. What is important, however,
is that the websites in question are accessible to all EU customers and
that, as described above, those customers must be able to purchase your
goods or services under the same conditions as your local customers.
Similarly, you are not prohibited from charging more for cross-border
delivery than you would for local delivery.
As for the type of payment methods you accept, that is largely up to you.
The Regulation simply means that you cannot discriminate within the range
of payment methods that you accept. If payments are made electronically by
credit transfer, direct debit, or card-based payment within the same brand
and category as one that you accept; authentication requirements are
fulfilled; and the payment is made in a currency that you accept, you
cannot discriminate.
What About Consumer Protection Law?
The Geo-Blocking Regulation does not change things here. The applicable law
largely depends upon whether a trader is directing their activities at a
particular member state. If your business is solely UK-oriented, then, you
do not need to suddenly learn 27 other sets of consumer protection laws
just in case you get an order from someone in another EU member state.
If, on the other hand, you do direct your activities to another member
state (e.g. you have a website with a .de domain name, a German
phone number, German content, and everything priced in Euros), you might
want to brush up on the consumer protection laws of that member state and
have compliant terms and conditions. This is a light-hearted way of saying
that when in doubt, it is vital that you seek suitable legal advice.
Updated Website Terms and Conditions Templates
Several of our e-commerce Website Terms and Conditions Templates have been
updated in light of the Geo-Blocking Regulation. These are not huge updates
designed to make the documents pan-EU in nature not least because one
document designed to work with 28 different countries’ laws would be
anything but user-friendly!
The updated templates have, however, had a provision removed that
previously included wording that referred to UK-only customers. In the case
of our sale of goods terms, the option remains to state that you only
deliver within the UK; but you should not now expressly refuse to sell to
customers outside of the UK. Our updated services terms have received a
similar alteration and now, rather than a similar ‘UK customers only’
provision, include an optional clause allowing you to specify the area or
areas in which you actually provide your services (where they are of a
‘physical’ or ‘real world’ nature as opposed to electronic services).
While these changes have been made to improve compatibility with the
Regulation, it is important to note that they remain designed for UK
activities only and as such are written with UK law in mind. Specific laws
that may apply in other EU member states are not addressed and it is
important to ensure that you are fully aware of, and in compliance with
such laws if you specifically direct your activities toward any particular
member state other than the UK.
The contents of this Newsletter are for reference purposes only and do not constitute
legal advice. Independent legal advice should be sought in relation to any specific
legal matter.