Best E-commerce & Internet Law Lawyers in Bonao

About E-commerce & Internet Law Law in Bonao, Dominican Republic

E-commerce and Internet Law in Bonao operates under national Dominican Republic statutes and regulations, applied locally through courts, regulators, and municipal authorities. If you sell products or services online, collect personal data, operate a marketplace, use digital signatures, advertise on social media, or store customer information, you are subject to a blend of electronic transactions law, consumer protection, data privacy, cybercrime, tax, and intellectual property rules. While the core legal framework is national, practical steps such as company registration, tax compliance, and dispute resolution often take place in Bonao through the local Chamber of Commerce and courts. This guide is informational and does not substitute for legal advice tailored to your specific situation.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

You may need a lawyer if you are launching an online store or marketplace and want enforceable terms and conditions, valid digital signatures, and compliant checkout flows. Legal help is important if you collect or share customer data and need to comply with Dominican privacy rules, consent, and security requirements. If you receive a complaint from a customer, a regulator, or a payment provider, counsel can help you respond and reduce penalties. When a data breach, hacking incident, phishing, or account takeover occurs, you will need guidance on containment, notification, and engagement with law enforcement. If you advertise online, run promotions, or use influencers, legal review can reduce the risk of unfair practices claims. For cross-border sales, a lawyer can help you manage tax, customs, and choice-of-law issues. If another party is using your brand or content without permission, you will need takedown strategies and IP enforcement. Finally, if you are setting up a business presence in Bonao, counsel can coordinate company formation, mercantile registry filings, tax registrations, and local permits.

Local Laws Overview

Electronic commerce and signatures. Law 126-02 on Electronic Commerce, Documents and Digital Signatures recognizes the legal validity of electronic documents and electronic signatures when reliability conditions are met. Qualified digital signatures issued by accredited certification service providers have enhanced evidentiary value. The telecommunications regulator INDOTEL oversees technical aspects of digital signatures and accredits certification providers under related regulations.

Consumer protection and distance commerce. Law 358-05 on Consumer Protection applies to online sales. It requires clear and truthful information on prices, characteristics, warranties, and total charges, and it prohibits abusive clauses and deceptive advertising. Pro Consumidor is the national consumer authority that handles complaints, inspections, conciliations, and sanctions. Distance selling practices must ensure transparency, accessible contact information, and fair return or warranty handling consistent with applicable regulations and your posted policies.

Personal data and privacy. Law 172-13 on Protection of Personal Data governs the collection and processing of personal information. Core principles include lawful basis, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, proportionality, security measures, and respect for data subject rights such as access, rectification, and deletion in legally permitted cases. Businesses should publish a clear privacy policy, obtain appropriate consent where required, implement security controls, and manage vendor contracts with data processing clauses. Special care is expected when handling minors data and sensitive information.

Cybercrime and platform security. Law 53-07 on High Technology Crimes penalizes unauthorized access, interference with systems or data, online fraud, identity theft, and related offenses. Businesses should implement access controls, logging, incident response plans, and reasonable safeguards to reduce exposure and to cooperate with authorities like the National Police High Technology Crimes unit when incidents arise.

Tax and invoicing. E-commerce transactions are generally subject to Dominican tax rules, including ITBIS on the sale of goods and many services, along with income tax obligations. The tax authority DGII administers registrations, invoicing rules, and filings. The electronic invoicing regime using e-CF is being rolled out with phased adoption, and sellers should confirm whether they must issue e-CF and comply with digital invoicing technical standards. Cross-border digital services may have special collection and reporting procedures as directed by DGII.

Intellectual property online. Trademarks and patents are governed by Law 20-00 on Industrial Property, and copyright by Law 65-00. ONAPI manages trademark registrations. E-commerce operators should avoid infringing content, respect brand usage, and maintain takedown procedures to address counterfeit goods or unauthorized content posted by users. There is no comprehensive safe harbor regime like some foreign systems, so platforms reduce risk by adopting prompt notice and action processes and by enforcing acceptable use policies.

Telecommunications and domains. INDOTEL regulates telecommunications and certain digital services aspects. Domain names under .do are administered by the national registry. Businesses should ensure correct registrant information and trademark clearance before registering domains.

Marketing and advertising. Online advertising must be truthful and not misleading under consumer protection rules. Display total prices, identify sponsored content, disclose material connections with influencers, and honor promotions and coupon terms as advertised. Maintain accessible contact and customer service information.

Commercial formation and local practice in Bonao. While laws are national, practical steps occur locally. To operate in Bonao with a Dominican entity, register the company and commercial name, enroll in the mercantile registry with the Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Monseñor Nouel, obtain a tax identification number with DGII, and secure sectoral permits if applicable. Local courts and Pro Consumidor channels in the region address disputes and complaints arising from transactions with Bonao consumers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are electronic signatures valid for contracts with customers in Bonao

Yes. Under Law 126-02, electronic documents and signatures are legally valid if reliability criteria are met. A qualified digital signature issued by an accredited provider has a presumption of authenticity similar to a handwritten signature. For consumer contracts, ensure the user clearly assents, for example by a checked box tied to terms, and that you retain verifiable records of consent.

Do I need a Dominican company to sell online to customers in Bonao

Not always. Foreign sellers can sell cross-border, but establishing a local entity may be advisable for tax, invoicing, logistics, payment processing, and dispute handling. If you maintain a physical presence, employees, or inventory in the country, local registrations are usually required. A lawyer can assess permanent establishment risk, ITBIS collection obligations, and DGII requirements.

What should my website terms and privacy policy include

Your terms should set product or service descriptions, pricing, payment, delivery, returns, warranties, disclaimers allowed by law, limitation of liability, dispute resolution, and governing law and forum. Your privacy policy should state what data you collect, legal bases, purposes, sharing with third parties, international transfers, retention periods, security, and how users exercise rights under Law 172-13. Make both policies clear, accessible in Spanish if you target Dominican consumers, and available before checkout.

How do I comply with Dominican data protection rules when using analytics and cookies

Treat cookies and similar technologies as data processing if they identify or relate to an identifiable person. Inform users about the types of cookies you use, the purposes, and third party participation. Obtain consent where required for non-essential tracking, and provide an easy way to withdraw consent. Enter data processing agreements with vendors that receive personal data and apply reasonable security controls.

What taxes apply to online sales to Bonao customers

Dominican tax rules apply regardless of whether the sale is online or offline. Most goods and many services are subject to ITBIS, and income from Dominican sources is taxable. You may have electronic invoicing obligations using e-CF depending on your taxpayer category and the rollout schedule. Cross-border digital services may have special collection procedures. Consult with a tax professional to register with DGII, charge the correct tax, and file on time.

What should I do if there is a data breach or account compromise

Activate your incident response plan. Contain and investigate, document facts, assess affected data and risk to individuals, and implement remedial measures. Notify affected users and relevant stakeholders as appropriate, and coordinate with law enforcement units that handle high technology crimes. Review and update security measures and vendor controls. Legal counsel can guide notification strategy and regulatory engagement.

How are refunds, returns, and warranty claims handled for online purchases

Your policies must be transparent, fair, and consistent with consumer protection laws. Provide accurate information before purchase, honor statutory warranties, and process valid returns or repairs within reasonable time. If a dispute arises, Pro Consumidor provides channels for conciliation and can impose measures for non-compliance. Clear internal procedures and staff training help prevent complaints.

Can I use influencers and email marketing to promote my online store

Yes, but ensure truthful advertising. Disclose material connections with influencers and require them to present accurate claims. Email marketing should respect consent and opt-out preferences and include clear sender identification. Keep records of consent and unsubscribe promptly when requested.

How do I protect my brand and content on marketplaces or social media

Register your trademarks with ONAPI, monitor platforms for misuse, and publish an intellectual property policy with a clear notice and takedown process. When you receive a credible infringement notice, act promptly to remove or disable access to the content, notify the user, and document your actions. Consistent enforcement and clear seller onboarding standards reduce the risk of recurring violations.

What happens if Pro Consumidor or another regulator contacts my business

Do not ignore the communication. Record deadlines, gather relevant documents and transaction records, and contact counsel. Many matters can be resolved through conciliation if you respond promptly, provide evidence, and propose remedies. Failure to cooperate can escalate to inspections, fines, or corrective orders.

Additional Resources

Pro Consumidor. The national consumer protection authority that receives complaints, conducts inspections, and promotes fair commercial practices in online and offline markets.

INDOTEL. The telecommunications regulator that oversees digital signature accreditation and certain communications service issues relevant to online platforms and service providers.

DGII. The tax authority responsible for taxpayer registrations, ITBIS, income tax, and the electronic invoicing regime known as e-CF.

Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Monseñor Nouel. The local chamber in Bonao that manages the mercantile registry for companies and commercial names operating in the province.

ONAPI. The National Office of Industrial Property for trademark and patent filings and searches to protect your brand in the Dominican Republic.

NIC.DO. The national domain registry for .do domain names used by Dominican businesses.

Procuraduría especializada y unidades policiales de alta tecnología. Specialized prosecutorial units and the National Police high technology crimes unit that investigate cybercrime and related offenses affecting online businesses.

Dirección General de Aduanas. The customs authority for cross-border shipments that affect e-commerce import and export logistics.

Pro-Competencia. The competition authority that oversees anti-competitive practices which may intersect with online marketplace conduct and distribution policies.

Next Steps

Clarify your business model. Identify who you sell to, what you sell, and where your customers are located. This determines consumer protection, privacy, tax, and cross-border considerations.

Engage a local lawyer. Choose counsel with experience in e-commerce, data protection, consumer law, and technology transactions. Ask for a scoped compliance review of your website, app, and backend operations.

Draft and localize policies. Prepare or update your terms and conditions, privacy policy, cookie notice, returns and warranty policy, and acceptable use policy in Spanish if you target Dominican consumers. Implement clear consent and record-keeping mechanisms.

Set up corporate and tax registrations. If operating from Bonao, register with the Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Monseñor Nouel, obtain your tax number with DGII, and assess whether you must issue e-CF electronic invoices.

Map data flows and strengthen security. Document what personal data you collect, where it is stored, who processes it, and for what purpose. Execute data processing agreements with vendors and implement role-based access, encryption, backups, and incident response plans.

Prepare a marketing compliance checklist. Train staff and influencers on truthful advertising, price transparency, and opt-in and opt-out processes for email and SMS campaigns.

Protect your brand. File trademark applications with ONAPI, register relevant domains, and establish a takedown protocol for marketplaces and social platforms.

Plan for disputes and investigations. Maintain orderly records of transactions, consents, invoices, and customer communications. Establish a contact point for regulators and a response playbook for consumer claims, cyber incidents, and IP complaints.

Review periodically. Laws and technical standards evolve. Schedule regular audits to update your practices regarding digital signatures, privacy, tax, and platform policies, and adjust your operations as regulations and guidance change.

If you are unsure how these rules apply to your specific facts, consult a qualified lawyer before launching or scaling your e-commerce operations in Bonao.