E-Commerce Law: Obligations and responsibilities of operators

When the E-Commerce Law becomes effective on 1 January 2019, it will clearly define and specify the responsibilities of operators, business platforms and government regulators. The law will protect the legitimate rights and interests of operators and consumers, as well as promote the healthy and sustainable development of e-commerce.

Q: What is e-commerce? Who are operators under the E-Commerce Law? A: According to the upcoming law, the business activities of selling goods or providing services through the internet and other information networks are e-commerce. However, financial products and services and providing contents of news information, audio and video programs, as well as publishing and cultural products through information networks, are not e-commerce that this law regulates.

E-commerce operators are natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated organizations engaged in the sale of goods or provision of services through the internet and other information networks, including e-commerce platform operators, operators in the platforms and other e-commerce operators that sell goods or provide services through self-built websites and other networks.

Zhang Dan is a partner and Guo Yaping is an associate at AnJie Law Firm