Best E-commerce & Internet Law Lawyers in Bonao

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

E-commerce and internet activities in Bonao operate under national Dominican Republic laws, applied locally by courts, regulators, and municipal bodies. Whether you sell through a website, marketplace, social media, or apps, you are subject to rules on digital contracts and signatures, consumer protection, data privacy, cybersecurity, advertising, taxation, and intellectual property. Bonao businesses also interact with local institutions such as the Chamber of Commerce of Monseñor Nouel for corporate registration and the local courts for dispute resolution, while most sector regulators and specialized agencies sit at the national level.

For entrepreneurs, retailers, content creators, platform operators, and service providers, the legal landscape covers how you collect and use personal data, how you present prices and terms, how you handle returns and chargebacks, how you secure systems and respond to incidents, and how you protect your brand and content online. Having clear, compliant policies and contracts is essential to reduce risk and build trust with customers in Bonao and beyond.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

You may need a lawyer for several common situations in the e-commerce and internet space:

- Setting up compliant website terms, privacy policies, cookie notices, and refund policies tailored to Dominican rules and your business model. - Drafting or negotiating contracts with marketplaces, payment processors, logistics providers, influencers, and software vendors. - Advising on data privacy under local law, including consent, data subject rights, cross-border transfers, and vendor management. - Handling consumer complaints, chargebacks, and claims before Pro Consumidor or in court. - Responding to cybersecurity incidents, online fraud, phishing, or account takeovers under the High-Tech Crimes law. - Intellectual property protection and enforcement, including trademarks, copyrights, domain names, takedowns, and license agreements. - Guidance on electronic signatures and paperless contracting that hold up as evidence. - Tax compliance for online sales, invoicing requirements, and proper accounting of ITBIS. - Cross-border sales issues, including customs, terms of sale, and governing law and jurisdiction clauses. - Platform compliance reviews to avoid account suspension, penalties, or regulatory scrutiny.

Local Laws Overview

Key Dominican laws and institutions relevant to e-commerce and internet activities in Bonao include:

- Electronic Commerce and Digital Signatures Law No. 126-02: Recognizes the legal effect of electronic documents and digital signatures. Certified digital signatures issued by accredited providers can have the same legal value as handwritten signatures when requirements are met. The law also addresses electronic contracting and certain rules for unsolicited commercial communications.

- Consumer Protection Law No. 358-05: Requires clear and truthful information, fair terms, non-misleading advertising, and adequate warranties and after-sales service. Pro Consumidor oversees compliance, including in online sales. Terms cannot waive mandatory consumer rights.

- Personal Data Protection Law No. 172-13: Establishes principles for lawful processing, consent, purpose limitation, data quality, security, and data subject rights such as access, rectification, and cancellation. Controllers must implement appropriate security and respect individuals' rights. Cross-border transfers should ensure adequate protection and lawful grounds. Enforcement typically occurs through courts and relevant administrative bodies.

- High-Tech Crimes and Offenses Law No. 53-07: Criminalizes unauthorized access, computer fraud, identity theft, damage to data and systems, and related conduct. It supports investigations and evidence gathering in cyber incidents.

- General Telecommunications Law No. 153-98: Regulates telecommunications services and aspects of digital service provision overseen by the Dominican Telecommunications Institute, known as Indotel.

- Intellectual Property: Industrial Property Law No. 20-00 covers trademarks, patents, and related rights managed by ONAPI. Copyright Law No. 65-00 protects literary and artistic works managed by ONDA. Online use of brands and content often intersects with these regimes.

- Domains: The .do country-code domain is administered by the local registry, and domain disputes are typically handled through administrative and judicial mechanisms informed by registry policies.

- Tax and invoicing: Online sellers must comply with Dominican tax obligations, including registration with the tax authority DGII and collection of ITBIS where applicable. The country uses electronic tax receipts known as e-CF, and electronic invoicing is being rolled out in phases under national rules, including Law No. 32-23 on electronic invoicing. Specific obligations vary by taxpayer profile and timeline set by DGII.

- Local procedures in Bonao: Companies in Bonao ordinarily register with the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Monseñor Nouel for the Mercantile Registry and with DGII for their RNC. Local civil and commercial courts handle disputes, while many regulatory complaints are processed nationally by bodies such as Pro Consumidor and Indotel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are electronic signatures valid for online contracts in the Dominican Republic?

Yes. Law 126-02 recognizes the validity of electronic documents and signatures. A certified digital signature issued by an accredited certification service provider has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature when used as required by law. Simpler forms of electronic agreement, such as click-to-accept, can also be enforceable if there is clear evidence of consent and the transaction does not require a formal notarized instrument. A lawyer can help you choose the appropriate signature level and evidence practices.

What must my website or app disclose to consumers?

Under consumer law, you should clearly display identity and contact details of the seller, full price and currency, delivery costs and timelines, key product or service characteristics, accepted payment methods, return and refund policies, warranty terms, and any restrictions or conditions. These disclosures should be visible before checkout and confirmed in a durable medium, such as an order confirmation email.

Do I need consent for cookies and analytics?

Dominican privacy law requires lawful grounds for processing personal data. If cookies or similar technologies collect or are linked to identifiable information or profiles, you should inform users and obtain consent where required. Provide a cookie notice explaining types of cookies, purposes, and how users can manage preferences. Avoid unnecessary tracking without a clear lawful basis.

How should I handle personal data of my customers?

Collect only what you need, tell users how you will use their data, obtain consent when needed, secure the data with appropriate technical and organizational measures, and respect data subject rights such as access and rectification. If you use third-party processors such as payment gateways or cloud providers, put data protection obligations in your contracts. For transfers abroad, ensure lawful grounds and adequate safeguards.

What are my obligations for email and SMS marketing?

Commercial messages should be clearly identifiable as ads, include accurate sender information, avoid misleading subject lines, and provide an easy opt-out. Keep suppression lists so you do not contact people who have opted out. Obtain consent as appropriate, especially for promotional campaigns aimed at new prospects.

How do returns and refunds work for online sales?

You must honor warranties, address defects, and provide remedies consistent with consumer protection rules and your published policy. Your policy should be clear, fair, and not reduce mandatory protections. If you offer a satisfaction or cooling-off period, spell out timelines, conditions, and costs of return shipping. Pro Consumidor can scrutinize unfair or confusing practices.

What should I do if my store suffers a data breach or fraud incident?

Contain and investigate the incident, preserve logs and evidence, assess affected data, and implement remediation. Notify affected customers when necessary to protect them from harm, and consider notifying relevant authorities or partners based on the nature of the incident. Your contracts and internal incident response plan should specify steps, roles, and communications. Early legal counsel helps align technical actions with legal duties.

How do I protect my brand and content online?

Register your trademarks with ONAPI, use copyright notices for creative works, and monitor platforms and marketplaces for infringement. Use platform takedown procedures, send cease-and-desist letters, or pursue administrative or court actions if needed. For domain issues under .do, explore the registry's dispute procedures and consider judicial relief where appropriate.

What taxes apply to online sales in Bonao?

Dominican sellers generally must register with DGII, issue compliant invoices or e-CF, and charge ITBIS on taxable goods and services. The applicable rate and exemptions depend on the product or service. Keep accurate records of sales, returns, and credits. Cross-border transactions may have additional considerations. Always confirm your specific obligations with a tax professional.

Can I limit my legal exposure with Terms and Conditions?

Well-drafted Terms and Conditions help allocate risk, set governing law and jurisdiction, address refunds, shipping, and dispute resolution, and limit liability within the bounds of law. However, you cannot disclaim mandatory consumer rights or use abusive clauses. Ensure your Terms are accessible before purchase and that customers affirmatively accept them.

Additional Resources

- Pro Consumidor - National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights: guidance and complaint handling for consumer issues, including online sales.

- Indotel - Dominican Telecommunications Institute: oversight of telecommunications, digital certification providers, and aspects of electronic signatures and communications.

- DGII - General Directorate of Internal Taxes: taxpayer registration, ITBIS, electronic tax receipts e-CF, and guidance on invoicing.

- ONAPI - National Office of Industrial Property: trademark and patent registration and searches.

- ONDA - National Copyright Office: registration and guidance for copyright and related rights.

- NIC.DO - .do domain registry: domain registration and dispute policy information for .do domains.

- DICAT of the National Police - High-Tech Crimes Investigations Department: reports and guidance for cybercrime incidents.

- National Cybersecurity Center and CSIRT-RD: incident response resources and best practices for cybersecurity.

- Chamber of Commerce and Production of Monseñor Nouel: Mercantile Registry and support for local business formalization in Bonao.

- General Directorate of Customs: import and export procedures relevant to cross-border e-commerce logistics.

Next Steps

- Map your digital operations: channels, data flows, vendors, payment methods, and target markets. Identify which laws apply to each activity.

- Get your documents in order: Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Notice, returns and warranty policy, vendor and influencer agreements, and data processing agreements.

- Confirm tax and invoicing: register or update your RNC with DGII, determine ITBIS treatment, and implement electronic invoicing and e-CF as required for your category.

- Protect your brand: file trademark applications with ONAPI, register key domain names under .do, and document your brand usage guidelines.

- Strengthen security and compliance: adopt access controls, encryption, incident response procedures, staff training, and vendor risk management. Keep audit trails for electronic transactions and signatures.

- Prepare for disputes: set clear customer service and complaint handling processes, maintain evidence of consent and deliveries, and align your chargeback response playbook with your payment processor rules.

- Consult a local e-commerce and internet law attorney: request a compliance review tailored to Bonao and your sector, including privacy, consumer, IP, and tax. Ask for a prioritized action plan with timelines and budget.

- Keep current: laws, DGII rules, and regulator guidance evolve. Schedule periodic reviews of your policies, contracts, and technical controls to stay compliant as your business grows.

This guide is for general information only. For advice on your specific situation in Bonao, consult a qualified Dominican attorney or compliance professional.