Cybershop of Horrors? Maybe, But Some Online Commerce Risks Can be Nipped in the Bud

Industry experts predict that by the year 200 the volume of electronic commerce in the United States will grow to $70 billion, up from $500 million in 1996. From bookstores to securities firms, businesses are attempting to capitalize on this boom by serving consumers directly online. Providing goods and services form a corporate World Wide Web site, however, raises many complex legal issues, and exposes companies to a maze of local, national, and international laws and regulations. This paper addresses some of the most relevant legal issues implicated by doing business online, and discusses how, with careful planning, certain legal risks of electronic commerce can be reduced or even avoided.

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