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UK – Enhancing consumer confidence by clarifying consumer law

Enhancing consumer confidence by clarifying consumer law: consultation on the supply of goods, services and digital content, July 13, 2012, UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

  • “The law covering consumer rights when they buy faulty goods and services has evolved over many years. Much of it is rooted in the common law of contract, but there is also an overlay of several statutes, some of which are over 30 years old, and a further overlay of more recent changes implementing European Union obligations. Not only is the law itself now unclear and hard for consumers to apply in several areas, but also consumers are not clear what their legal entitlements are when things go wrong. This is particularly true for digital content (e.g. music, software or games) where there is a complete lack of clarity at the moment over what rights and remedies a consumer may have. Obviously the Government cannot tolerate archaic law holding back innovation in a sector as important as this. Few consumers are willing to pursue their rights when the benefits of doing so are so hard to predict without expensive legal advice. The Government set up the Red Tape Challenge to identify areas where the law was too complex and to bring forward repeals and simplifications. The proposals outlined in this Consultation respond to that challenge.”
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