Best E-commerce & Internet Law Lawyers in Thivais

About E-commerce & Internet Law Law in Thivais, Greece

E-commerce and internet law in Thivais, Greece sits at the intersection of Greek national law and directly applicable European Union rules. Whether you run a local online shop serving customers in Boeotia or operate a platform with Greece-wide reach, you must comply with consumer protection, data protection, electronic commerce, advertising, competition, payments, and intellectual property rules. Because Greek authorities apply EU standards uniformly across the country, businesses in Thivais face the same obligations as those in Athens or Thessaloniki, with the added importance of understanding local market practices such as cash-on-delivery, courier logistics, and service of process in the Thiva court district.

Core frameworks include the EU General Data Protection Regulation for personal data, Greek consumer protection rules for distance sales, the EU E-commerce Directive as transposed into Greek law, the EU Digital Services Act for intermediaries and platforms, and sectoral rules on payments, cookies and e-privacy, advertising, and product safety. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority, the General Secretariat for Commerce and Consumer Protection, and other regulators oversee compliance. Local courts in Thivais handle disputes based on jurisdiction, and out-of-court mediation options exist for many consumer issues.

This guide offers a practical overview to help you understand key requirements and common issues. It is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. For tailored guidance, consult a licensed attorney familiar with e-commerce and internet law in Greece.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

Launching or scaling an online business involves choices that carry legal risk. A lawyer can help you draft compliant website terms, design customer journeys that meet distance selling rules, and set up privacy and cookie practices aligned with GDPR and Greek e-privacy law. Legal support is especially valuable when your online store targets Greek consumers in Greek language and when you combine online sales with physical operations in Thivais, such as a showroom or click-and-collect point.

Common situations where people seek help include preparing terms and conditions, privacy notices, and cookie banners, setting up order flows and checkout disclosures to meet pre-contract information rules and the 14-day right of withdrawal, handling complaints, returns, warranty claims, and defective products, responding to data subject requests and managing data breaches, drafting influencer agreements and ensuring proper advertising disclosures, negotiating platform or marketplace terms and handling account suspensions under the Platform to Business Regulation and the Digital Services Act, resolving domain name and trademark disputes, addressing unfair competition or fake reviews, structuring payment solutions and cash-on-delivery arrangements while complying with PSD2 and chargeback rules, implementing VAT, invoicing, and myDATA e-books reporting for online sales, and preparing internal policies for content moderation, notice-and-takedown, and seller onboarding if you run a marketplace.

If a dispute arises, a lawyer can represent you before the Hellenic Data Protection Authority, the Consumer Ombudsman, EETT, or the civil courts serving Thivais, and can help you reach settlements through mediation or alternative dispute resolution.

Local Laws Overview

Consumer protection for distance and off-premises contracts is governed by Greek law that implements EU rules on consumer rights, unfair commercial practices, unfair contract terms, and sale of goods and digital content. Key points include clear pre-contract information, the 14-day right of withdrawal with limited exceptions, delivery and risk rules, legal warranty for lack of conformity, transparency around price reductions and reviews, and requirements for after-sales support. Greece has implemented the EU Omnibus Directive, which strengthens transparency for price promotions and online reviews, and the EU directives on sale of goods and digital content, which update warranty and update obligations.

Data protection is governed by the EU GDPR and Greek Law 4624-2019, with additional e-privacy rules under Law 3471-2006. Businesses must have a lawful basis for processing, maintain records, inform individuals through a clear privacy notice, implement security measures, and honour data subject rights. Cookies and similar technologies require prior opt-in consent unless strictly necessary, and pre-ticked boxes are not valid. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority has issued guidance on cookies and has actively enforced non-compliance.

Electronic commerce services are regulated by the EU E-commerce Directive as implemented in Greece, which sets obligations for information disclosure about the service provider, commercial communications, online contract formation, and liability limitations for intermediary service providers such as caching, hosting, and mere conduit. If you operate a marketplace or platform, the EU Digital Services Act applies across Greece and imposes obligations on notice-and-action mechanisms, trader traceability, transparency reporting, and risk mitigation measures depending on your size and role.

Payments and authentication are governed by PSD2 as implemented in Greece, which requires strong customer authentication for online card payments unless exemptions apply, and sets rules for payment service providers and chargebacks. Merchants must comply with Greek tax and invoicing rules, including VAT registration where applicable, the EU OSS or IOSS schemes for cross-border sales, and electronic transmission of transaction data to the myDATA electronic books maintained by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue. Greek VAT rates and invoicing requirements apply to supplies made in Greece, and the distance selling VAT rules apply for cross-border B2C sales within the EU.

Advertising and marketing are subject to Greek consumer law and the rules on unfair commercial practices, as well as e-privacy consent requirements for email, SMS, and messaging app marketing. The soft opt-in exception may apply for existing customers for similar products, provided an opt-out is always offered. Influencer marketing and endorsements must be clearly identifiable as advertising, and claims must be truthful and substantiated.

Intellectual property and online content are protected under Greek copyright and trademark law. Hosting providers benefit from liability limitations if they act expeditiously upon obtaining knowledge of unlawful content. Merchants should implement notice-and-takedown procedures and avoid the use of copyrighted material without permission. Domain names under .gr and .ελ are overseen by EETT, with assignment and dispute processes set in EETT regulations and recourse to courts if needed.

Other relevant EU regulations include the Geo-blocking Regulation, which prohibits unjustified discrimination based on nationality or place of residence, the Platform to Business Regulation, which sets fairness and transparency rules for platforms dealing with business users, product safety rules and CE marking for applicable goods, and rules on electronic identification and trust services under eIDAS that make qualified electronic signatures legally equivalent to handwritten signatures in Greece.

Practical local considerations in Thivais include managing courier logistics and return costs for rural deliveries, properly disclosing cash-on-delivery fees, offering Greek language terms and customer support when targeting Greek consumers, and ensuring your legal notices display required company information such as the registered name, address, tax number, and G.E.MI. registry details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information must my Greek online store display on its website

You must clearly display your business name, geographic address, contact details including an email address, tax number and G.E.MI. registry information where applicable, prices including VAT and any additional charges, essential product characteristics, delivery and return terms, right of withdrawal details and the model withdrawal form for consumers, accepted payment methods and any fees such as cash-on-delivery, and complaint handling and dispute resolution information. If you are a platform, disclose your content moderation policies and trader verification approach required by the Digital Services Act.

Do I need to provide a 14-day right of withdrawal for online sales in Thivais

Yes, for most B2C distance contracts you must provide a 14-day withdrawal period starting from delivery. You must inform consumers about this right and how to exercise it. Some goods and services are exempt, such as sealed health products once unsealed, digital content not supplied on a tangible medium once performance begins with consent, or perishable goods. If you fail to inform properly, the period can be extended.

How should I handle cookies and tracking on my site

Non-essential cookies and similar tracking technologies require prior opt-in consent under Greek e-privacy rules, and consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous. Provide a concise cookie banner with a reject option of equal prominence to accept, link to a detailed cookie notice, and allow users to change their choices at any time. Do not set analytics or advertising cookies before consent is obtained.

Are email or SMS promotions to Greek customers allowed

Yes, but you generally need prior consent for electronic direct marketing. A soft opt-in may apply if you collected the recipient’s details during a sale of similar products or services, you offer a clear opt-out at collection and in every message, and the recipient is a customer. Keep records of consent and honour opt-outs promptly. Follow additional platform policies for messaging apps.

What are my obligations for warranties and defective products

Consumers benefit from a legal warranty for lack of conformity with a minimum duration of two years for goods. For at least the first 12 months, Greek law applies the EU presumption that a lack of conformity existed at delivery unless you prove otherwise. Remedies include repair, replacement, price reduction, or contract rescission depending on the situation. For digital content and services, you must ensure conformity and provide updates for a reasonable period.

How do VAT and invoices work for online sales from Thivais

If you are established in Greece, you charge Greek VAT on domestic B2C sales unless a specific exemption applies. For cross-border B2C sales within the EU, you can use the One Stop Shop to report VAT in other member states once thresholds are met. For low-value goods imported into the EU, consider IOSS. You must issue receipts or invoices under Greek rules and transmit data to myDATA electronic books. Keep accounting records for the retention period required by Greek tax law.

What should I do if I suffer a data breach affecting customers

Assess the incident promptly, contain and remediate, document your findings, and determine if the breach is likely to result in a risk to individuals. If so, notify the Hellenic Data Protection Authority within 72 hours under GDPR. If there is a high risk to individuals, inform affected customers without undue delay. Review contracts with processors, update security measures, and consider legal counsel to manage notifications and potential liability.

Can my terms choose foreign law and courts for Greek consumers

You may include a governing law and jurisdiction clause, but you cannot deprive consumers of the protection afforded by mandatory provisions of their country of residence. Greek consumers retain rights under Greek consumer law and EU jurisdiction rules may allow them to sue in Greece. For B2B contracts, choice of law and forum are generally respected, subject to limitations.

How are domain name disputes for .gr or .ελ handled

.gr and .ελ domain names are overseen by EETT under its regulations. Disputes over eligibility, assignment, or alleged infringement can be brought through administrative procedures under EETT rules and through the Greek courts. Collect evidence of your trademark or trade name rights and of the registrant’s bad faith or illegitimate use to support your case.

What obligations apply if I run an online marketplace

You must verify and record seller identity information, provide clear terms and ranking parameters under the Platform to Business Regulation, implement notice-and-action mechanisms for illegal content under the Digital Services Act, respond to orders from authorities, suspend repeat infringers, and publish transparency reports if thresholds apply. You also have consumer law obligations if you are the merchant of record or present yourself as such.

Additional Resources

Hellenic Data Protection Authority HDPA. Independent regulator for GDPR and e-privacy in Greece, issues guidance on cookies and marketing, investigates complaints, and imposes sanctions.

General Secretariat for Commerce and Consumer Protection. Oversees consumer law policy and enforcement, including rules on distance selling, unfair practices, price reductions, and product safety.

Hellenic Consumer Ombudsman. Independent authority offering free alternative dispute resolution between consumers and businesses for many e-commerce issues.

Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission EETT. Regulates electronic communications and manages .gr and .ελ domain names, including assignment rules and dispute procedures.

Independent Authority for Public Revenue AADE. Provides guidance and systems for VAT, invoicing requirements, and myDATA electronic books reporting.

Hellenic Competition Commission. Enforces competition rules that can affect platform terms, price parity clauses, and distribution policies.

Thebes Bar Association. Local professional body for licensed attorneys serving Thivais and the wider Boeotia region.

European Consumer Centre Greece. Assists consumers with cross-border e-commerce disputes within the EU through information and mediation.

Ministry of Digital Governance. Issues policies and guidance on digital services, electronic identification, and trust services relevant to online contracting and signatures.

EU Online Dispute Resolution platform. A consumer-facing channel for resolving cross-border online purchase disputes with traders established in the EU.

Next Steps

Map your online business model and target audiences. Identify whether you sell goods, digital content, or services, whether you target consumers or businesses, where your customers are located, and whether you operate as a merchant, a platform, or both.

Audit your website, app, and back-office flows. Check your pre-contract information, checkout process, email and SMS marketing practices, cookie banner and consent records, privacy notice, terms and conditions, returns handling, and complaint mechanisms. Verify that your disclosures are clear in Greek if you target Greek consumers.

Update core documents and policies. Prepare or revise your terms of service, privacy policy, cookie policy, withdrawal information and form, warranty information, influencer and affiliate agreements, seller onboarding terms for marketplaces, and internal procedures for handling data requests, takedowns, and incidents.

Set up compliant payments, invoicing, and tax processes. Ensure strong customer authentication is supported, fees are transparent, receipts or invoices are issued correctly, and myDATA reporting is configured. Review VAT obligations and consider OSS or IOSS for cross-border sales.

Establish record-keeping and training. Keep consent logs, complaint records, takedown requests, incident reports, and tax documents for required retention periods. Train staff on consumer rights, data protection, and advertising rules.

Seek legal advice. Contact a licensed lawyer with experience in Greek e-commerce and internet law, ideally a practitioner registered with the Thebes Bar Association. Share your current policies, customer flows, and any regulator or customer complaints so your lawyer can provide targeted guidance.

Plan for ongoing compliance. Monitor legal updates such as enforcement guidance from the Hellenic Data Protection Authority, consumer law amendments, developments under the Digital Services Act, and tax changes. Review your site and policies at least annually or when you change products, pricing, marketing, or technology.

This guide provides general information to help you get started. For specific questions or disputes, consult a lawyer who can assess your situation under Greek law and the EU rules that apply to your business in Thivais.