CONSUMERS' RIGHTS : DIGITAL SECTOR REACTS TO DRAFT DIRECTIVE.

Considered as revolutionary in certain quarters, the draft directive on consumers' rights, which was voted on in the European Parliament on 24 March in Brussels, has caused concerned in the blue-chip technology companies of the BSA (Business Software Alliance), whose products are involved.

Initially, the European Commission did not include the obligation to provide pre-contractual information for digital services, and reserved the right to act later, which the BSA welcomed. However, MEPs have reversed this and expanded the definition of consumer digital services as a concept that "the consumer can use (...) in a similar manner to the physical possession of property," according to the draft report.

On the side of industry, it was argued that digital products, such as anti-virus software, have nothing to do with the tangible results of their regular updates. At the same time, said BSA's Thomas Boue, European consumers will not...