"Companies using a .com or .eu domain name, or displaying
international codes for phone numbers, are more likely to be 'directing'
their activities at foreign consumers, affecting where they can sue or
be sued, the Court of Justice of the EU has ruled," a report in
OUT-LAW.COM says.
The report notes that consumers can elect to have contract disputes
heard in "their own country if a company in another EU Member State has
directed its business at consumers in that state or all EU Member
States."
"The ECJ said, though, that merely operating a website which foreigners
can access is not enough to qualify as a company directing its
activities to other countries."
The decision comes about following two cases ruled on by the European
Court of Justice, one where an Austrian resident sought a refund from a
German shipping company "for a voyage that he booked but did not take."
The other involved a German resident who booked hotel rooms in Austria
who left without paying his bill due to complaints about the
accommodation.
To read the OUT-LAW.com report in full, see out-law.com/page-11658.
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