EU Ends Geoblocking Of Online Consumers

The European Union (EU) has signed off on a plan that would require all online retailers in the European bloc to sell electrical goods, concert tickets and make available car rentals to all consumers of the European Union, no matter where they reside.

According to news from Reuters, the move is aimed at ending geoblocking, a practice in which consumers in one EU country are prevented from making purchases of goods or services hawked on the internet in another country. Ending that practice had been a major focus of the EU as it aims to create one digital marketplace for all European Union members.

The agreement was reached earlier this week between the European Parliament and the 28 EU member states. Under the agreement, European shoppers can purchase products and services from an EU country, with the rule extending to Amazon and eBay. Through the deal, companies can’t send consumers to a country-specific website without first getting the permission of the online consumer. However, consumers will have to figure out how to get the product if cross-border delivery isn’t available.

“With the new rules, Europeans will be able to choose which website they want to buy from, without being blocked or re-routed. This will be a reality by Christmas next year,” Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip in a statement to Reuters.

The report noted that the agreement doesn’t cover copyright-protected content, such as music streaming services like Apple iTunes and Spotify, as well as electronic books, television shows and movies. Parliament wanted those services included, but the music industry had contended that it could result in price increases in countries where the services cost less.

Still, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) said by eliminating copyright-protected materials from the new rule, consumer’s choice would be hurt if they were living abroad.

“It is especially frustrating for consumers who belong to a linguistic minority and would like to watch series or films in their own language,” Monique Goyens, the director general of BEUC, told Reuters.