Whats required to make you business website design legal

This information applies to all registered UK companies with websites.

Did you know that in the UK companies must include certain regulatory information on their websites and in their e-mail footers from 1^st January 2007 or they will breach the Companies Act in the UK and risk a fine.

Websites should provide the following minimum information. This must be readily, easily and permanently accessible:

• The name of the service provider must be given somewhere easily accessible on the site. This might differ from the trading name and any such difference should be explained.
• The e-mail address of the service provider must be given.
• The geographic address of the service provider must be given. A PO Box is unlikely to suffice as a geographic address; but a registered office address would. If the business is a company, the registered office address must be included.
• If a company, the company’s registration number and the place of registration should be stated (e.g. XXXX Enterprises Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with company number XXXXXXX).
• If the business is a member of a trade or professional association, membership details, including any registration number, should be provided.
• If the business is VAT registered, the registration number should be stated – even if the website is not being used for e-commerce transactions.
• Prices on the website must be clear and unambiguous. Also, state whether prices are inclusive of VAT and delivery costs.
• Finally don’t forget the Distance Selling Regulations which contain other information requirements for on-line businesses that sell to consumers.

Disability Discrimination Act

The relevant quotes from the DDA Code of Practice are:

• “The Disability Discrimination Act makes it unlawful for a service provider to discriminate against a disabled person by refusing to provide any service which it provides to members of the public”.
• “From 1^st October 1999 a service provider has to take reasonable steps to change a practice which makes it unreasonably difficult for disabled people to make use of its services”.
• “For people with visual impairments, the range of auxiliary aids or services which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might include… accessible websites”.
• “For people with hearing disabilities, the range of auxiliary aids or services which it might be reasonable to provide to ensure that services are accessible might include…. accessible websites”.