Best E-commerce & Internet Law Lawyers in Melissia

About E-commerce & Internet Law in Melissia, Greece

E-commerce and Internet law covers the legal rules that apply to buying and selling online, running websites and apps, handling personal data, advertising online, and resolving disputes that arise from Internet activity. In Melissia - as in all of Greece - those rules are shaped by a mix of European Union regulations and directives, Greek national legislation, and administrative practice. Business owners and consumers in Melissia must comply with GDPR data-protection rules, EU consumer-rights protections for distance selling, e-commerce rules on information and liability, as well as national tax, company-registration and intellectual-property requirements.

Practically, this means that whether you are a Melissia resident selling goods on a marketplace, running a local online service, or operating a blog that collects user data, you need to pay attention to contract terms, privacy and cookie notices, consumer rights, electronic payments rules, and platform liability. Local legal advice will often be necessary to adapt European and national rules to your specific business model and to deal with enforcement or dispute situations in Greece.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

You may need a lawyer in the following common situations related to e-commerce and Internet law in Melissia:

- Starting an online business and wanting a compliance check of your website or app - terms of use, privacy policy, cookie consent, returns and shipping terms, pricing, VAT and invoicing obligations.

- Drafting or reviewing contracts with suppliers, marketplaces, payment providers, logistics companies, or software developers.

- Responding to a data-breach or a complaint from a user, including dealing with notification duties under GDPR and communications with the Hellenic Data Protection Authority.

- Handling consumer disputes - cancellation or withdrawal claims, returns, unfair commercial practices complaints, or enforcement actions by consumer-protection authorities.

- Addressing intellectual-property issues - takedown notices, trademark or copyright infringement claims, licensing agreements and protecting your brand.

- Managing platform liability issues - notices and takedown procedures, moderation policies, and compliance with the Digital Services Act for larger platforms.

- Navigating cross-border sales in the EU - harmonizing terms, VAT compliance, and using the Online Dispute Resolution platform.

- Defending against regulatory investigations, fines or enforcement proceedings from national authorities.

Local Laws Overview

Key legal frameworks that apply in Melissia include European Union law and Greek national law. EU rules often apply directly in Greece and set baseline obligations; Greek law implements and supplements those rules.

- Data protection - The EU General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR - applies directly. GDPR sets rules on lawful bases for processing, transparency, data-subject rights, breach notification, and fines. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority is the national supervisory authority and enforces data-protection law in Greece.

- Consumer protection and distance selling - EU consumer rules - including the Consumer Rights Directive - regulate pre-contract information, right of withdrawal for distance contracts (typically 14-day cooling-off), delivery and refund obligations, and remedies for defective goods. Greek consumer-protection laws and administrative authorities enforce these rules nationally.

- E-commerce and intermediary liability - The eCommerce Directive and more recent EU-level rules on digital services shape liability for hosting and information society services. Hosting providers may have limited liability if they act as neutral intermediaries, but notice-and-action procedures, information requirements and new obligations under the Digital Services Act can apply depending on the size and role of the service.

- Payment services and security - PSD2 and related EU rules require secure payment processes, strong customer authentication and regulation of payment service providers. Businesses must ensure payment flows comply with these rules and with Greek tax requirements for invoicing and record-keeping.

- Intellectual property - Trademarks, copyright and design law protect creative works and brands. Enforcement can be pursued in civil courts or via administrative procedures. Protecting your IP in Greece involves national registration where relevant and appropriate takedown or infringement actions.

- Advertising and marketing - Rules regulate unfair commercial practices, advertising to minors, comparative advertising and disclosure for sponsored content and influencer marketing. Consent and transparency are particularly important for direct marketing communications under GDPR and national marketing rules.

- Regulatory bodies and enforcement - Several Greek authorities may become involved depending on the issue - the Hellenic Data Protection Authority for data matters, consumer-protection bodies for consumer disputes, tax authorities for VAT or invoicing issues, the Athens Bar Association for legal representation and the Hellenic Police cybercrime units for criminal investigations relating to hacking or fraud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register my online business in Greece if I sell from Melissia?

Yes. If you operate a commercial activity you generally need to register the business with the relevant Greek authorities, obtain a tax identification number and VAT registration where applicable, and keep proper accounting records. The exact registration path depends on your legal form - sole trader, company or other structure. Local legal or accounting advice will help you choose the best structure and meet tax obligations.

What legal pages or documents must my e-commerce website have?

At a minimum you should publish clear Terms and Conditions or Terms of Use, a Privacy Policy explaining personal-data processing under GDPR, a Cookie Notice/Consent mechanism for tracking technologies, and clear information on prices, delivery, returns and cancellation rights. For distance sales you must provide pre-contractual information required by consumer law - such as seller identity, main characteristics of goods or services, total price, delivery costs and cancellation procedures.

How does GDPR affect my online store in Melissia?

GDPR applies to most online businesses that process personal data of EU residents. You must have a lawful basis for processing, provide transparency notices, allow data-subjects to exercise rights like access and erasure, implement security measures and in some cases appoint a Data Protection Officer or carry out Data Protection Impact Assessments. You also have obligations to report certain personal-data breaches to the supervisory authority and affected individuals.

What are the consumer withdrawal rights for distance purchases?

Consumers generally have a 14-day right to withdraw from distance contracts without giving a reason, starting from receipt of goods or from conclusion of contract for services. There are exceptions - for example sealed goods that cannot be returned for health or hygiene reasons, bespoke products or digital content where download consent was given. You must inform consumers about the right, the process to exercise it and any costs for returns.

Who is liable for user-generated content or marketplace listings?

Liability depends on the role of the website or platform. Pure intermediaries or hosting providers may benefit from limited liability if they do not have actual knowledge of illegal activity and act promptly after receiving notice. Marketplaces that play an active role in transactions or facilitate listings with commercial control may face greater responsibilities. New EU rules on digital services may impose additional obligations on larger platforms.

Can I use third-party content or images on my site?

You must ensure you have the right to use third-party content - typically via a license, permission or because the material is in the public domain. Unauthorized use can lead to copyright infringement claims and takedown requests. Maintain records of licenses and consider watermarking or documenting permissions for commercial images.

What should I do if I receive a data-breach notification or a takedown request?

For a personal-data breach you must assess whether the breach is likely to result in a risk to individuals rights and freedoms and, if so, notify the Hellenic Data Protection Authority within the statutory deadline and inform affected individuals when required. For takedown requests - such as IP complaints - evaluate the notice, preserve relevant evidence, consider a counter-notice where appropriate and follow legal advice to avoid wrongful removal or escalation.

How do taxes and VAT work for online sales in Greece and to other EU countries?

Sales within Greece are subject to Greek VAT rules. Cross-border B2C sales to other EU countries may trigger distance-selling thresholds or require VAT registration in the buyer country, though EU rules have modernized with the One-Stop Shop - OSS - to simplify VAT reporting for cross-border e-commerce. B2B sales often rely on the reverse-charge mechanism when the buyer is VAT-registered. Consult an accountant for registration and filing obligations.

What rules apply to email marketing and promotional messages?

Email marketing is regulated under GDPR and national electronic-communications rules. You generally need a lawful basis - typically consent - for direct marketing to consumers, and you must offer an easy way to unsubscribe. Commercial electronic communications to businesses have different requirements. Keep records of consent and ensure transparency and opt-out mechanisms are in place.

How can I resolve disputes with a customer or platform without going to court?

Consider alternative dispute resolution - ADR - mechanisms such as mediation or arbitration and the EU Online Dispute Resolution platform for cross-border consumer disputes. Many platforms have internal complaint procedures and escalation paths. Document all communications and offer negotiated remedies where appropriate. If those options fail, legal action in civil court or small-claims procedures may be necessary.

Additional Resources

For help and authoritative information in Greece you can consult national bodies and institutions that handle regulation and enforcement. Key bodies include the Hellenic Data Protection Authority for data-protection guidance, the consumer-protection authorities and ombudsman for consumer issues, the Ministry responsible for commerce and digital governance for business rules, and the Hellenic Police cybercrime unit for criminal matters. For intellectual-property questions, national industrial property offices and the courts provide guidance and enforcement routes.

For legal representation and local advice, lawyers registered with the Athens Bar Association cover Melissia and can advise on national and EU law as applied locally. Certified accountants and tax advisors in Attica can help with VAT and bookkeeping matters. Industry associations and local chambers of commerce can also be a practical source of sector-specific guidance and networking.

Next Steps

If you need legal assistance in Melissia, start by clarifying the legal issues most relevant to your situation - for example data protection compliance, consumer-terms drafting, tax registration, or dispute resolution. Gather the key documents - website terms, privacy policy, contracts, invoices and communications - so a lawyer can perform a compliance review quickly and efficiently.

Contact a lawyer experienced in e-commerce and Internet law who is registered with the Athens Bar Association. Ask about prior experience with online businesses, GDPR matters and consumer disputes. Request a written engagement letter that explains scope, fees and timelines. Consider an initial compliance checklist or audit - many firms offer fixed-fee packages for common needs like privacy-policy drafting, cookie-consent implementation and consumer-terms templates.

Finally, adopt a practical compliance plan - prioritize high-risk areas such as payment security, data breaches, and consumer-rights practices, implement remedial steps identified in the audit, and schedule periodic reviews as your business or legal rules evolve. Document decisions and consent records to reduce regulatory risk and to be prepared in case of complaints or inspections.