Geo-blocking and discrimination among customers in the EU [EU Legislation in Progress]

Written by Tambiama Madiega (2nd edition),

Geo-blocking practices commonly restrict cross-border sales of tangible goods as well as of electronically supplied services and electronically delivered content services in the EU. In May 2016, the European Commission proposed a new regulation that prohibits online sellers of tangible goods, and of some types of electronically supplied services, from discriminating among customers based on their nationality or place of residence within the European Union. In November 2017, after protracted negotiations, the co-legislators agreed to ban some types of unjustified geo-blocking practices. However, the ban will not apply initially to content and services protected under copyright (for instance, e-books and downloads of music and audiovisual content). At the request of the Parliament, a review clause has been introduced which requires the Commission to re-examine the situation two years after the entry into force of the regulation.

See also our statistical spotlight on
‘Cross-border online sales in the EU‘.

Versions

• February 2018: ‘Geo-blocking and discrimination among customers in the EU‘ (2nd edition)
• July 2016: ‘Geo-blocking and discrimination among customers in the EU‘ (1st edition)