Running a website
Contents
Overview
The act of creating and publishing a website can involve a host of technical issues. Once these have been overcome, the legal requirements affecting the running of a commercial website are no less complex.
There are many different UK laws that regulate website design, domain name choice, website content, sales from websites, e-commerce and online activity.
Data protection
An important issue is how a website collates, stores and processes personal information about its customers, or its users. Operators of commercial websites need to understand and be able to apply the principles of data protection law.
Domain names
Those launching a commercial website will need to choose a domain name carefully. In particular, they should ensure that the chosen domain name is available, does not infringe another person's trade mark rights and is not confusing or obviously associated with someone else's business.
Terms and conditions
They will also need to know that the terms and conditions upon which they offer goods or services for sale are compliant with consumer protection laws. These cover more than just terms of sale but also affect, for example, how the goods or service are marketed or advertised, the means of access of consumers to the offers made and the rights of consumers before and after a sale is concluded.