These technologies have revolutionised business bringing new opportunities but also many potential pitfalls.
Intellectual Property Rights are central to the conduct of business on-line, principally featuring trade marks and copyright. Trade marks are relevant as corporate and product or service brands are used on-line to identify businesses (as simple names and as domain names and URL’s), products and services (which can also be hypertext links, domain names and URL’s). Copyright is relevant to rights claimed in any literary work or artwork used in websites, or software downloaded via websites. Jurisdictional questions as to which national court or law should apply can also arise. There are other issues which arise as a result of the use of these technologies, including:

Advertising: It is common for websites to carry advertising for products or . . .
Contractual Issues: All e-commerce transactions will be subject to terms and conditions . . .

Defamation: This relates to the publication of statements causing damage to reputation. E- commerce and the internet will mostly concern libel (the written or permanent form of defamation). The speed of the internet and its indiscriminate and international reach have simply intensified the problems and difficulties involved in preventing the publication of defamatory statements. ISPs often find themselves in the firing line in disputes. Decisis can advise and assist on matters in this area.

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