Not many branches of economy have remained unchained or have not been influenced by the development of new technologies. The Internet – the most important symbol of development of the last two decades – it created many economical branches of which some have disappeared and the remaining ones have been revolutionized. Nowadays we talk not only about e-services or e-trade but we also deal with e-administration or e-courts.
Lower costs, easier access to clients – it all influences the dynamic development of e-business. However, we should be aware of the additional risk connected with using the advantages of the Internet in performance of business. The law imposes many disclosure requirements on entrepreneurs providing their services on the Internet. Each lapse may be easily caught – for instance by the entities concentrated on the search for unlawful activity, violating costumers rights, included in the rules and regulations of providing services.
How does the Internet influence our lives, besides the narrowly understood scope of the business activities? Once agreed upon that in a particular restaurant a meal prepared from rotten products would reach only a limited group of people. Nowadays such an opinion, placed on Internet forums or social media faces a chance of reaching all potential customers in minutes. On one hand such assessment may pose a huge risk to the slandered restaurant and infringe on its good name. On the other hand – the person, who expresses such opinion, has to be prepared to face civil or even criminal responsibility for publishing it. Moreover it is easier, far easier than it was in the past – to become “professional” on the Internet, at least in the perception of the courts and administrative authorities. A blogger is often considered a “professional journalist”, and a person selling old books via the Allergo service – may be thought to be a “professional retailer”. The above mentioned automatic perception of active users of Internet consequences in additional obligations for them, including obligation to know and obey the regulations being currently in force in the similar scope as entrepreneurs.
The partners of the Office specialize in issues concerning Internet Law and new technologies.
Law in the Internet – or even „law of the Internet” – because of its specific nature, covers provisions from different branches of law, among others: Copyrights, Industrial Property Right, Civil Law (together with provisions concerning electronic contracts), Personal Data Protection, Competition and Consumer Protection, Combating Unfair Competition, Telecommunication Law, Advertisement Law or Criminal Law.
Law of new technologies – in many aspects it connects with issues concerning copyrights and the law of the Internet.
The Partners possess experience in areas of Internet law and law of new technologies covering and providing legal support for entrepreneurs; providing services using this medium – starting with the entities performing business in retail of “traditional” products and services by e-trade, providers of those services, entities providing services using geographical localization or webmasters. We have gained necessary experience to provide legal support for specialists and their clients as well. We also conduct cases regarding internet domains and good name and reputation protection on the Internet.
In the scope of Internet law and new technologies we offer:
- comprehensive consultancy – concerning performance of the business on the Internet or the use of new technologies;
- conformity assessment with the provisions currently in force of the activities undertaken on the Internet;
- preparation and assessment of the drafts of the contracts or participation in negotiations;
- comprehensive legal support of business performance on the Internet – including legal assessment of the proposed business model and preparation of the documents necessary of such business;
- conducting court disputes concerning issues of Internet law and new technologies – civil disputes, litigation before administrative courts and if necessary, criminal cases;
- representation in proceedings before specialized divisions of the Regional Court of Warsaw: Court for Competition and Consumer Protection, Court for the Community trademarks and industrial designs.
