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On 11 May 2005 the European Parliament and the Council signed a Directive prohibiting unfair commercial practices (see IRIS 2005-4: 5, IRIS 2004-7: 3 and IRIS 2003-8: 5). In so doing, EU authorities have taken the protection of consumers' interests a step further. This Directive is an amending addition to several others covering the same field: the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts (Directives 84/450/EEC and 97/7/EC), injunctions for the protection of consumers' interests (Directive 98/27/EC) and the distance marketing of consumer financial services (Directive 2002/65/EC)....

On 13 May, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a Declaration on human rights and the rule of law in the Information Society. The Declaration will be submitted as a Council of Europe contribution to the Tunis Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS, see IRIS 2004-2: 2) in November 2005. The first section of the Declaration is entitled “Human Rights in the Information Society”. Its treatment of “the right to freedom of expression, information and communication” includes the assertion that existing standards of protection should apply in digital and non-digital...

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has issued a new set of Guidelines on Marketing and Advertising Using Electronic Media formerly called ICC Guidelines on Advertising using the Internet. This latest version covers a wide array of electronic media besides the internet, like digital radio and television, telephone use and MMS/SMS. The Guidelines aim to provide the business community with a code of conduct for ethical marketing and complement applicable national and international laws. The ICC notes that in the ever-developing communications environment it is in the interest of businesses...

Various German search engine providers have launched a self-regulation initiative under the umbrella of the Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Multimediadienste-Anbieter (voluntary self-monitoring body for multimedia service providers - FSM). The founder members include FSM members Google, Lycos, MSN Deutschland, Yahoo, T-Online and T-Info. In addition to the FSM's general code of conduct, special rules have been developed for search engine providers. The aim of this self-regulatory system is to improve consumer protection and the protection of children and young people using search engines in Germany....

Decision No. 213 of Romania's National Audiovisual Council (CNA) on the procedure for the granting of audiovisual licences and the licensing of terrestrial transmission of broadcast programmes entered into force at the end of March 2005. Articles 3 to 10 of CNA Decision No. 213 regulate the tendering procedure for broadcasting licences. Article 3, for example, stipulates that the CNA must publicise any tendering for broadcasting licences, through advertisements in the printed media and on its own homepage (www.cna.ro), for example. Article 4 lists all the documents that must be submitted with the...