Digital Business, e-Commerce, e-Services and Internet Liability

Learning Outcomes

Within the framework of the course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate critical understanding of the relationship between law and new technologies
• Understand contemporary legal issues arising from the widespread use of information technology and communications
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework for electronic commerce, provision of electronic services, and e-business
• Acquire the necessary knowledge and flexibility for the design and analysis of electronic business processes
• Develop analytical and critical skills regarding the impact of the Internet on commerce (internationalization, outsourcing, new e-business models, etc.) and digital entrepreneurship, with an emphasis on legal and regulatory issues
• Obtain essential knowledge for the effective management of related issues and cases in practice, utilizing both interdisciplinary and comparative methods
• Possess advanced, state-of-the-art specialized scientific knowledge in the subject matter of the course, serving as a foundation for original thinking and research activities

Syllabus

• Introduction to the relationship between law and new technologies. Introduction to technology.
• Internet: technical and organizational structure. Domain Name System (DNS).
• Models of electronic business (B2B, B2C, C2C, etc.). New methods of electronic business with examples: a) public funding (crowdfunding), b) retail without inventory (dropshipping), c) Internet of Things.
• Law and the Information Society (IS): The legal framework for electronic business (e-Business). Regulatory provisions and constraints for commercial activities on the Internet – a critical approach. Regulatory interventions – Self-regulation / co-regulation.
• The three pillars to ensure the right to participate in the IS: 1) Universal service, 2) Network neutrality, 3) Network and service security.
• The Directive on Electronic Commerce (e-Commerce Directive): Provision of services in the Information Society.
• IS services and competition: Regulations 2022/1925 (Digital Markets Act – DMA) and 2019/1150 (intermediary services).
• The Directive on Electronic Commerce (e-Commerce Directive): The system of exemption from liability. Recent developments – strengthening the liability of intermediary providers. Regulation 2022/2065 on Digital Services (Digital Services Act-DSA).
• Organization of the operation of commercial websites. Remote contract conclusion – the direct liability of the seller/service provider. Payment methods.
• Consumer protection legislation – mandatory content of commercial websites – general terms of transactions – alternative dispute resolution. Online advertising.
• Directives 2019/770 (digital content & digital services) and 2019/771 (sale of goods), incorporation into Greek law (Law 4967/22), recent case law, practical implementation issues.
• Security and integrity of transactions – Cryptography – Electronic signatures.
• Legal issues arising from the use of distributed ledger technology (blockchain) and cryptocurrencies in electronic business.