Dr. Ecommerce Home


Ask Dr. Ecommerce a question

Q&A Alert
Latest Questions
Archives 2001
Archives 2000
Archives 1999
FAQ
Legal questions
European Institutions
Nat'l & local government
Technologies
Marketing & Selling
Definitions and Philosophy
How do I do it?
Money
General e-commerce

eThesis home
Universities and schools
eThesis best links

About Dr. Ecommerce
Discussion lists
In the news
Dr. Ecommerce speaks out

Board of experts
Legal guide
Statistics

11 September 2000

Dear Dr. Ecommerce:

What is the legal acceptance (in Europe) of sending and receiving Bill's over the Internet (B2B or B2C)? What is the legal acceptance of a digital -signature to acknowledge Payment-orders over the Internet(per Country in Europe)?

Lex

Dear Lex:

This depends on what you mean by bills. If you mean invoices (including VAT information), this is a matter that is still left to the member states, although generally, electronic invoicing is not accepted. You'll have to check with each individual country where you want to send an invoice. I expect this to change soon.

Digital signatures as yet are not widely accepted throughout Europe. However, the EU recently passed an electronic signatures directive (DIRECTIVE 1999/93/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 13 December 1999 on a Community framework for electronic signatures - you can download a copy from http://www.ispo.cec.be/ecommerce/legal/digital.html) which must be implemented by all member states no later than 19 July 2001 - less than a year from now. So, electronic signatures will be widely accepted very soon.

All the best,

Dr. Ecommerce

What do you think? Join the Dr. Ecommerce Talk discussion forum and share your opinion

Got a question for Dr. Ecommerce?