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This paper contains an overview of principal areas of the French e-commerce law, such as electronic transactions; providers' liability; governing law and jurisdiction; personal data and consumer protection.

The legal framework for electronic signatures is now complete. A recent ministerial order has established the criteria that signature creation devices must meet to be deemed secure, and sets out the regime for the qualification of certification service providers and accreditation of evaluation organizations.

http://www.internationallawoffice.com/ld.cfm?Newsletters_Ref=5688

France has adopted the Law on Daily Security (2001/1062). This law introduces new rules requiring card issuers to reimburse cardholders if fraudulent payments are made without their cards being physically used. The law will be particularly useful in combating online fraud.

http://www.internationallawoffice.com/ld.cfm?Newsletters_Ref=5368

Following the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11 2001 the French government has introduced new rules governing the cooperation of encryption service providers with public authorities.

http://www.internationallawoffice.com/ld.cfm?Newsletters_Ref=4730

French consumers can now enjoy increased levels of protection under the newly implemented Directive on Distance Contracts and a new Civil Code chapter. The new rules increase the amount of information that must be provided to consumers and expands the consumer's right to withdraw from a concluded contract.

http://www.internationallawoffice.com/ld.cfm?Newsletters_Ref=4729

The Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance has recently made two judgments concerning internet activities, both involving online auctions by American companies. The rulings are unprecedented in their scope: first, in terms of what constitutes French jurisdiction and secondly, regarding the responsibility of web site owners to control the access of internet users to material on other web sites linked to their own by a hypertext link.

http://www.internationallawoffice.com/ld.cfm?Newsletters_Ref=1924

In March a step was taken towards adapting French law to the technological age when a new law was enacted. The principal provisions of the law give electronic documents and digital signatures the same status as written documentation and signatures when they are used as evidence.

http://www.internationallawoffice.com/ld.cfm?Newsletters_Ref=1927