Uk and Eu have created a legal and regulatory system that encourages Essay

Uk and Eu have created a legal and regulatory system that encourages the adoption and growth of e-commerce - Essay Example 41). This piece of research paper addresses the regulatory activities of UK and EU in last 15 years to encourage the adoption and growth of E-Commerce and how it has provided a framework to protect the rights of consumers. An Overview of EU’s E-Commerce Directive In 2000, European Union has first adopted regulations to foster E-commerce throughout the regions of EU (Plotkin, Wells and Wimmer, 2003, p. 14-60) and in 2002 it also has set certain rules and regulations in order to provide consumers within the EU with more comforts in buying of goods or services from online. One of the very fundamental objective of this regulation was to ensure that customers’ rights are protected. These rules and regulations have clearly defined how the protection can be applied. The protection applied only to those consumers who visited a commercial website setting specific directions regarding how a business should operate its website and virtual business environment (Sparrow 2009, p. 41) . According to EU regulations, every company that operates a virtual website must adhere strictly to the rules and regulations if the business offers good or services to its customers online. When a business fails to strictly comply with these regulations, the business will be legally liable and will be prosecuted accordingly. EU’s regulations about E-Commerce has been considered to be a cornerstone in electronic marketplace. These regulations, often termed as E-Commerce Directive or Distance Selling Directive, were established in 2000 to foster the expansion of E-Commerce by developing a ‘country of origin’ rule that promoted free movement of E-Commerce within the EU member countries. The regulations have defined the limit of how extent one member state may regulate electronic commercial activity entering its boarders from another member state (Plotkin, Wells and Wimmer, 2003, p. 14-60). Sparrow (2009, p. 41) stressed that the E-Commerce directive developed by E U was to encourage greater use of E-Commerce by removing the barriers throughout the Europe and to enhance consumers’ confidence by making them and businesses aware of their rights and obligations to each others when dealing through online. The regulations were more likely to promote a single market in Europe by developing movement of ‘information society services’ across the European economic area. EU directive as British Law Internet Magazine in 2002 reported that the E-Commerce regulations implemented by EU has also been adopted by UK and considered as its Law. When it has been considered as part of English law, the wide-ranging legislation particularly affected ISPs and how the businesses would be held if they dealt with illegal content on the websites. When UK has adopted the EU directive, the major intentions were to boost confidence in e-commerce. According to UK’s regulations, those businesses that failed to adhere to the regulations have been subj ect to a ‘stop now’ order by which these businesses were forced to change their online-procedures or business practices. EU Directive promoted growth of E-Commerce Computer Weekly in 2003 reported that European Union’s E-Commerce Directive has already increased the take-up of online services and proved highly