Warning: this post is out-of-date. For the current law (as at 18 May 2012) on ecommerce site information disclosures, see: https://seqlegal.com/blog/selling-online-and-law-part-4-information-disclosure ********** English law requires that most business websites supply certain information. The basic information requirements are set out in: The Electronic Commerce Regulations (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 (the “Ecommerce Regulations”). These Regulations implement into […]
Internet Law Archives - Page 5 of 5 - SEQ Legal
Scraping, data mining and data harvesting
Many websites incorporate data obtained from other websites. It is sometimes thought that, where the data obtained is not protected by copyright (e.g. data consisting of postal addresses arranged alphabetically) there are no legal problems. This is however a mistake: the collection and re-use of such data can present significant legal risks. As a matter […]
Scraping, data mining and data harvesting
Many websites incorporate data obtained from other websites. It is sometimes thought that, where the data obtained is not protected by copyright (e.g. data consisting of postal addresses arranged alphabetically) there are no legal problems. This is however a mistake: the collection and re-use of such data can present significant legal risks. As a matter […]
Email footers and the law
In deciding what to include in your standard email footers, there are two kinds of legal issue: what must be included; and what inclusions are desirable. There are various distinct statutory requirements. The main kinds of potentially desirable inclusions are email disclaimers and confidentiality notices. Mandatory inclusions Sections 349 to 351 of the Companies Act […]
Content: kinds of illegality
The publication of website content – whether textual, audio, video, or other content – can be unlawful in two main ways. It can breach the criminal law; and it can give rise to civil liability. Breaches of the criminal law may result in prosecution, and a successful prosecution may lead to a fine or even […]
Database right: how it may protect your website
Database right is similar to copyright, but distinct. Both database right and copyright may subsist in a single database quite independently. However, this note is concerned exclusively with the protection afforded to websites by database right, not copyright. In the UK, the key piece of legislation is the Copyright and Rights in Databases Regulations 1997. […]
Terms of use FAQ
This brief FAQ contains answers to some of questions I get asked on a daily basis relating to website terms. What is the difference between T&Cs, terms of use, and disclaimers? In the context of websites, these are different names for often similar – and sometimes identical – documents. “T&Cs” or “terms and conditions” may […]
Using your own photographs on your website
When you take a photograph, you own the rights in it, don’t you? Yes. And no. The person who takes a photograph will usually be the first owner of the copyright in the photograph (unless that person is an employee acting in the course of his or her employment). However, there are other rights to […]
The legal risks of running a website
Many websites are inherently risky; indeed, some of the web’s most famous sites are built upon technologies and business models which test the boundaries of the law. Examples include eBay which, despite a vigorous IP enforcement programme, has over the years facilitated a massive online trade in pirated products; and YouTube, which still hosts huge […]
