Whatever the type of site (shop, showcase, forum, etc.), legal notices are required. They secure Internet users and site administrators. Thus, the credibility of the site is enhanced, the reliability can be verified. What should the legal notices contain? What are the risks in the absence of these?
Legal notices are required on any website
The law for confidence in the digital economy of June 21, 2004 specifies that legal notices must appear on any website, whether personal or professional. The identification of the person in charge and the host of any site must be possible. The law was supplemented by the decree of May 9, 2007 .
Legal notices may appear in the footer of a website, on a separate page, in the T & Cs, in a PDF.
What information must appear in the legal notices?
Physical persons
Personal website
Indicate his identity (surname and first name) and his address is not obligatory. On the other hand, it is necessary to specify the contact details of the site host.
Professional website
The following information must be indicated:
- Last name and first name
- Home Address
- Phone number
- E-mail adress
- Contact details of the host (name, company name, address, telephone number)
- For sites editing editorial content: name of the director of the publication
The RCS registration number must appear if people are subject to the RCS registration formalities or the trades directory.
Moral people
The information below must be mentioned:
- Company name or name
- Registered Address
- E-mail adress
- Phone number
- Site editor
- For sites editing editorial content: name of the director of the publication
- Contact details of the host (name, company name, address, telephone number)
The RCS registration number and the amount of the share capital must appear if the persons are subject to the formalities of registration with the RCS or the trades directory.
What are the risks in the absence of legal notices?
The absence of legal notices is punishable by heavy criminal penalties . In order to fight against abuses of freedom of expression, any breach of the legal notices may be punished with up to one year of imprisonment and a fine of € 75,000 for individuals, a € 375,000 fine for individuals.