Consumer-related Legal Aspects of the Infromation Society: The Case of Denmark

The general legal framework covering economic transactions has been created long before the creation of electronic commerce. Therefore most regulation more or less explicitly assumes that goods have a physical appearance and that all contractual issues are settled either orally or by use of paper. Electronic Commerce mediated via the telecommunications network has enabled electronic ordering, electronic purchase and electronic payments. In addition digital goods such as software have no physical appearance and can be subject to electronic distribution. Not all parts of the existing legislation fit into this new situation. This creates a number of legal and regulatory problems, which - if not resolved - may restrict further growth of electronic commerce. This paper deals with the consumer related aspects of this regulatory challenge.