{"id":58306,"date":"2018-12-03T10:14:09","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T10:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.dlapiper.com\/iptitaly\/?p=58306"},"modified":"2019-06-24T14:43:31","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T12:43:31","slug":"the-pros-and-cons-of-the-new-eu-geo-blocking-regulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.dlapiper.com\/iptitaly\/2018\/12\/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-new-eu-geo-blocking-regulation\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pros and Cons of the new EU Geo-Blocking Regulation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everyone knows that State frontiers were a serious challenge to the exchange of products and services within the European Union. Then, after reaching the so-called Schengen acquis, Member States managed to tear down internal borders and ensure a well-functioning circulation of products over the Union. The new EU Geo-Blocking Regulation is a further step towards the freedom of services throughout the European Union.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Geo-blocking?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Beside State frontiers, in the digital age there are more obscure barriers that may significantly restrict free movement of goods and services. The most evident one is the trend of blocking or limiting access to online interfaces, such as websites and Apps, by customers from other Member States wishing to make cross-border purchases of products or services \u2013 in a word, \u201cgeo-blocking<\/a>\u201c. Indeed, figures show that such trend is widespread. A recent survey demonstrates that consumers cannot buy or access services in around 60% of the websites if they come from another EU Member State. In February, the European Parliament approved a Regulation that attempts to tackle these issues.<\/p>\n

The new Geo-blocking Regulation and its \u201cDefusing Clause\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The\u00a0EU Geo-Blocking Regulation (EU) 2018\/302<\/a>\u00a0entered into force on 22 May 2018 and is applicable starting from 3 December 2018. The Regulation unpacks Geo-blocking into two different set of provisions, that concern<\/p>\n