{"id":17729,"date":"2022-09-17T14:50:17","date_gmt":"2022-09-17T14:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=17729"},"modified":"2022-09-24T21:28:14","modified_gmt":"2022-09-24T21:28:14","slug":"geoblocking-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/geoblocking-discrimination\/","title":{"rendered":"Geoblocking &#038; Discrimination [EU]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/geoblocking-discrimination\/#Geo-blocking_addressing_discriminatory_treatment_of_customers\" title=\"Geo-blocking: addressing discriminatory treatment of customers\">Geo-blocking: addressing discriminatory treatment of customers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/geoblocking-discrimination\/#Scope\" title=\"Scope\">Scope<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/geoblocking-discrimination\/#Access_to_online_interfaces\" title=\"Access to online interfaces\">Access to online interfaces<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/geoblocking-discrimination\/#Conditions_of_access_to_goods_or_services\" title=\"Conditions of access to goods or services\">Conditions of access to goods or services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/geoblocking-discrimination\/#Means_of_payment\" title=\"Means of payment\">Means of payment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/geoblocking-discrimination\/#Relationship_with_competition_law_and_passive_sales\" title=\"Relationship with competition law and passive sales\">Relationship with competition law and passive sales<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/geoblocking-discrimination\/#Review\" title=\"Review\">Review<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/geoblocking-discrimination\/#Application_Background\" title=\"Application &amp; Background\">Application &amp; Background<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/geoblocking-discrimination\/#MAIN_DOCUMENT\" title=\"MAIN DOCUMENT\">MAIN DOCUMENT<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geo-blocking_addressing_discriminatory_treatment_of_customers\"><\/span>Geo-blocking: addressing discriminatory treatment of customers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Regulation (EU) 2018\/302 on addressing unjustified geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination based on customers\u2019 nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market<\/p>\n<p>It aims to ensure the proper functioning of the EU\u2019s internal market by preventing unjustified geo-blocking* and other forms of discrimination based, directly or indirectly, on customers\u2019 nationality, place of residence or location, in online and off-line transactions within the EU.<\/p>\n<p>It does not oblige traders to deliver across borders (if this service is not already provided by the trader) or to harmonise prices.<br \/>\nIt does, however, prohibit discrimination between EU customers in access to goods and services on the basis of the customer\u2019s nationality, residence or establishment, when the foreign customer accepts the conditions applied domestically (i.e. the right to shop like a local).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Scope\"><\/span>Scope<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The regulation does not apply to:<\/p>\n<p>purely internal situations in EU countries;<br \/>\nother services such as financial, audiovisual, transport, healthcare and social services, in line with the scope of the EU\u2019s Services Directive.<br \/>\nThe regulation does not apply to copyright-protected content services \u2014 such as music streaming services, e-books, software and video-games \u2014 but this will be reviewed when the regulation is evaluated.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Access_to_online_interfaces\"><\/span>Access to online interfaces<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The regulation bans blocking access to websites and re-routing without the customer\u2019s prior consent.<\/p>\n<p>Even if the customer gives consent to the redirection, the original version visited must remain accessible.<\/p>\n<p>Where the blocking, limiting access or re-routing are justified by EU law, or in national law in accordance with EU law, traders must provide a clear explanation to customers.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conditions_of_access_to_goods_or_services\"><\/span>Conditions of access to goods or services<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There are 3 specific situations where traders may not apply different general conditions of access to goods or services, for reasons related to a customer\u2019s nationality, place of residence or location, unless it is to comply with EU law, or national law in accordance with EU law:<\/p>\n<p>the sale of goods delivered to an area served by the trader (or picked up by the customer);<br \/>\nthe sale of electronically supplied services;<br \/>\nthe sale of services provided in a specific physical location.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Means_of_payment\"><\/span>Means of payment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Traders remain free to accept whatever payment means and card brands they want. However, they are not allowed to discriminate within the same means of payment or brand for reasons related to:<\/p>\n<p>the customer\u2019s nationality, place of residence or place of establishment;<br \/>\nthe location of the payment account;<br \/>\nthe location of the payment services provider;<br \/>\nthe place of issue of the means of payment.<\/p>\n<p>Traders are considered to be discriminating when they refuse a payment, where:<\/p>\n<p>it has been made through electronic transactions by credit transfer, direct debit or card-based payment within the same brand and category;<br \/>\nit is in a currency that the trader accepts; and<br \/>\nthe authentication requirements have been fulfilled.<br \/>\nTraders may, however, request charges for the use of a card-based payment for which interchange fees* are not covered by EU rules on fees for card-based payments.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Relationship_with_competition_law_and_passive_sales\"><\/span>Relationship with competition law and passive sales<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In general, the regulation does not affect the rules on competition, in particular Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>Agreements regarding active sales* remain governed by EU rules on exemptions for vertical supply and distribution agreements. However, the geo-blocking regulation applies for passive sales*: a restrictive agreement with a supplier requires a trader to treat customers from other EU countries differently for such sales, in a manner prohibited by the regulation, is not allowed and must be disregarded.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Review\"><\/span>Review<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The European Commission will present a report evaluating the application of the regulation by March 2020 and every 5 years thereafter. The first report will examine whether its scope might be expanded.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Application_Background\"><\/span>Application &amp; Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It has applied since 3 December 2018.<\/p>\n<p>KEY TERMS<\/p>\n<p>Geo-blocking: a trader\u2019s discriminatory practice of preventing online customers from accessing products or services offered on a website established in another country and from purchasing those products or services, for instance by blocking access to websites across borders; denying the possibility to complete an order, to purchase goods or services when accessing a website from abroad.<\/p>\n<p>Interchange fees: fees charged by a cardholder\u2019s bank to a retailer\u2019s bank every time a consumer makes a card-based purchase.<br \/>\nActive sales: in the context of exclusive distribution agreements, sales made by actively approaching individual customers inside another distributor\u2019s exclusive territory.<br \/>\nPassive sales: sales in response to unsolicited requests from customers located in a territory in which the trader is not active.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MAIN_DOCUMENT\"><\/span>MAIN DOCUMENT<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Regulation (EU) 2018\/302 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 February 2018 on addressing unjustified geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination based on customers&#8217; nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market and amending Regulations (EC) No 2006\/2004 and (EU) 2017\/2394 and Directive 2009\/22\/EC (OJ L 60I , 2.3.2018, pp. 1-15)<\/p>\n<p>RELATED DOCUMENTS<\/p>\n<p>Directive 2006\/123\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on services in the internal market (OJ L 376, 27.12.2006, pp. 36-68)<\/p>\n<p>Commission Regulation (EU) No 330\/2010 of 20 April 2010 on the application of Article 101(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to categories of vertical agreements and concerted practices (OJ L 102, 23.4.2010, pp. 1-7)<\/p>\n<p>Regulation (EU) 2015\/751 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on interchange fees for card-based payment transactions (OJ L 123, 19.5.2015, pp. 1-15)<\/p>\n<p>Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union \u2014 Part Three: Union policies and internal actions \u2014 Title VII \u2014 Common rules on competition, taxation and approximation of laws \u2014 Chapter 1: Rules on competition \u2014 Section 1: Rules applying to undertakings \u2014 Article 101 (ex Article 81 TEC) (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 88-89)<\/p>\n<p>Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union \u2014 Part Three: Union policies and internal actions \u2014 Title VII \u2014 Common rules on competition, taxation and approximation of laws \u2014 Chapter 1: Rules on competition \u2014 Section 1: Rules applying to undertakings \u2014 Article 102 (ex Article 82 TEC) (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, p. 89)<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-17729\" data-postid=\"17729\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-17729 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Geo-blocking: addressing discriminatory treatment of customers Regulation (EU) 2018\/302 on addressing unjustified geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination based on customers\u2019 nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market It aims to ensure the proper functioning of the EU\u2019s internal market by preventing unjustified geo-blocking* and other forms of discrimination based, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[124],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17729"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17729"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17729\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18376,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17729\/revisions\/18376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}