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Legal compliance shouldn't be seen as a necessary evil to doing business online. While it's true that red tape can hinder progress, today's customers expect compliance at every level. It's much more than just playing by the book. It's playing on a level playing field with your competitors.

Aspects of legal compliance we can consult with you on include the:

• Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002
• Trade Marks Act 1994

Most of our time is spent on accessibility issues...

In October 1999, Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 came into effect.

This Act clearly defines a disability as "a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities," and this includes physical disabilities that affect movement or the senses, and mental illnesses and impairments, for example, learning disabilities.

This introduced a series of obligations and duties on service providers:

• "Not to refuse to provide, or deliberately not provide a service to a disabled person which the service provider provides, or is prepared to provide to members of the public."
  — Disability Discrimination Act 1995, § 19(1)(a)

• "To make 'reasonable adjustments' in circumstances in which the effect of that failure is to make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for the disabled person to make use of any such service."
  — Disability Discrimination Act 1995, § 19(1)(b)

• "Not to provide a lower standard or manner of service to a disabled person."
  — Disability Discrimination Act 1995, § 19(1)(c)

There was ambiguity because the Act didn't specifically mention online services. But the consensus was that it could be applied to Web sites. Any ambiguity was finally removed by the publication in 2002 of a Code of Practice (by the Disability Rights Commission), which clarified that businesses should make their sites accessible to those with disabilities such as hearing or visual impairments.

For further information, talk to us on +44 (0)870 412 1050 or drop us an email.

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