LAATSTE NIEUWS
New Law establishing a Legal Framework for the Providers of Confidential (Electronic) Services.
03.12.2007
On July, 17th, a new law establishing a “Legal Framework for the Providers of Confidential Services”, has entered (partially) into force. This law imposes on providers of electronic archiving-, electronic time registration- and financial escrow services certain information obligations as well as the obligation to meet minimum service standards.
Universele Telecommunicatiediensten
19.07.2007
Op 12 juli zijn een groot aantal KB’s in het Belgisch Staatsblad gepubliceerd die diverse aspecten regelen van de universele diensten in de telecommunicatiesector
Handelsovereenkomsten.net
04.02.2008
Sinds enige tijd kan U nieuwe ontwikkelingen op het gebied van handelsovereenkomsten volgen op deze site.
Elektriciteit: weekendtarief in Staatsblad
18.09.2006
Besluiten Vlaamse en Waalse regering tot uitbreiding van nachttarief tot weekend zijn vandaag gepubliceerd.
Robeco neemt participatie in A.I.M. Trading
24.08.2006
Op 23 augustus heeft de Nederlandse Robeco groep een participatie genomen in de Belgische vermogensbeheerder A.I.M. Trading.
Wet van 19 december 2005 op de pré-contractuele informatie bij commerciële samenwerkingsovereenkomsten (franchise en andere distributieovereenkomsten).
04.10.2006
Een kort overzicht van het toepassingsgebied van de bepalingen van deze wet.
Statuten en Aandeelhoudersovereenkomsten
15.11.2006
Veel vennootschappen, zeker als ze een min of meer gespreide aandeelhoudersschap hebben, vullen hun statuten aan met een aandeelhoudersovereenkomst. In de bijgevoegde publicatie onderzoek ik de verhouding tussen de twee.
Publicatie van nieuw Vlaams besluit inzake WKK certificaten – Goedkeuring Arrêté du gouvernement Wallon relatif à la promotion de l’électricité verte.
08.12.2006
Op 1 december is in het Staatsblad het Besluit van de Vlaamse regering “ter bevordering van de elektriciteitsopwekking in kwalitatieve warmtekrachtcentrales” van 7 juli 2006 gepubliceerd. Daags voordien, op 30 november heeft de Waalse regering het “Arrêté du gouvernement Wallon relatif à la promotion de l’électricité verte” goedgekeurd.
NIEUWS
New Law establishing a Legal Framework for the Providers of Confidential (Electronic) Services.
03.12.2007
Certain parts of the law, notably concerning electronic certified communications, were to enter into force only following a further royal decree which had to be taken no later than December, 1, 2007. Since a new government seems to require a bit more time, this part of the law will not enter into force and for now the law will only concern electronic archiving, electronic time registration and financial escrow services.
Under the definitions of the law archiving would also include external storage or back-up, even short-term, and, e.g., web-hosting. Financial escrow includes services that block payments by buyers until confirmation of delivery of the ordered goods or of completion of a service.
The law provides that the service providers must be “impartial”; that they should not use or access the data for any other purpose than the agreed service; and, that they should use reasonable means to protect the data they have been entrusted with, both from access by third parties and from corruption. Service providers should also see to it that their employees are bound by a confidentiality obligation and that they are insured against their liability for damages.
The law is most specific where it requires service providers to submit certain information to their clients before entering into any contract for the service. This information requirement covers: terms of service, warranties, the extent to which the service provider can be held liable, details on the operation of and the access to the service, the ways the data are protected and the insurance coverage. If the required information is not submitted in advance this may allow the customer to hold the contract void. In addition, the service provider could be liable to the payment of a substantial fine.
With regard to the other provisions (not concerning the pre-contractual information), it is a bit difficult to gauge what the real impact of the law will be since its requirements are not very detailed and to a certain extent are overlapping with previous legislation. Until that becomes clear the law seems mainly to enforce what will often be existing professional practices. It is advisable for the concerned service providers to at least document their professional practices to demonstrate compliance with the law and to review their practices to see if there are any remaining gaps.
Jubelfeestlaan, 96, B-1080 Brussel.
Tel: +32 2 427 49 31 l Mob: + 32 495 58 54 45
fax: +32 2 427 94 31 l info@vancaneghem.net