http://www.offshore-e-com.com/ A topical guide to offshore e-commerce focused on tax and regulation. Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Spain_Moves_Tax_Goalposts_For_EGaming_Firms____55581.html The Spanish tax authority has required that online operators with customers in Spain pay back-taxes under two historic laws that previously were not applied to offshore online gaming. Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Malaysia_Australia_Sign_FTA____55568.html On May 22 in Kuala Lumpur, as a complement to the existing regional agreement between Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Malaysia was one of the original members, Australia's Trade Minister Craig Emerson and his Malaysian counterpart Mustapa Mohamed signed a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement. Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Lamy_Sings_Praises_Of_IT_Agreement____55466.html At the opening of a symposium to mark the 15th Anniversary of the Information Technology Agreement, which substantially liberalized taxes on the global trade of computer products, World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy emphasized that the success of the agreement could easily be transferred to other growth, and innovation-promoting industries. Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/IoM_EGaming_Sector_Recognised____55443.html E-Gaming companies resident in the Isle of Man scooped multiple awards at the eGaming Review Business to Business Awards, having been nominated for eighteen accolades. Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/MEPs_Agree_Deal_On_Mobile_Roaming_Price_Caps____55429.html Data roaming and phone calls abroad for European Union consumers should be much cheaper from July 1 this year, due to an agreement with the European Council which has been endorsed by the European Parliament. Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/UK_ESeller_Amnesty_Deadline_Looms____55394.html HM Revenue and Customs has warned people trading on the internet and who may have tax irregularities that they now have just one month to take part in the e-sellers tax amnesty and avail of lower penalty rates. Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Hearing_Focusses_On_US_Consumer_Internet_Privacy____55385.html The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce have used their testimonies before a hearing of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to describe the Administration’s efforts to protect consumer privacy over the internet. Wed, 9 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Luxembourg_Unveils_Unsatisfactory_Q1_Tax_Revenues____55335.html Luxembourg’s Finance Minister Luc Frieden has recently unveiled details of the country’s public finances at central administration level for the first quarter of 2012, and has defended the additional budgetary consolidation decisions taken by the government at the end of April. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Malta_Signs_Gambling_Oversight_Agreements____55070.html Malta's Lotteries and Gaming Authority has announced the signing of three cooperation agreements with other regulators, the European Sports Security Association, the sports integrity agency of global soccer association FIFA, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, to strengthen its domestic oversight capabilities and contribute towards international enforcement efforts. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Antigua_Issues_Plea_To_US_On_EGaming____55015.html Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, has met with US Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, to discuss Antigua and Barbuda’s internet gaming case against the United States. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/EU_Consults_On_Rules_For_Wirelessly_Connected_Devices_____54964.html The European Commission has launched a public consultation to ensure that the rights of individuals are respected in the so-called "Internet of Things", where everyday objects, such as phones and cars, are wirelessly connected to the internet through smart chips, and can collect and share data. Fri, 6 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/World_Economic_Forum_Issues_Global_ICT_Report____54870.html The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with INSEAD, has issued the Global Information Technology Report for 2012, which is said to be the most comprehensive assessment of the preparedness of global economies to leverage the networked economy. Fri, 6 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/EU_Agrees_ECJ_Submission_On_ACTA____54845.html The European Commission has taken the next step in referring the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement to the European Court of Justice, by agreeing on the legal submission to be put before the Court. Fri, 6 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Channel_Islands_Will_Not_Appeal_UK_VAT_Ruling____54833.html The Jersey government has decided not appeal the decision of the High Court in London, which ruled that the United Kingdom government's decision to revoke Low-Value Consignment Relief (LVCR), a value-added tax concession, for the Channel Islands was consistent with European Union law. Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Jersey_Targets_Digital_Industries_With_New_Agency____54793.html A new agency, Digital Jersey, is to be established as a part of a public-private partnership aimed at promoting Jersey's digital industries - including e-gaming, e-commerce and Information and Communications Technology, on the back of Jersey's newly updated Intellectual Property legislation. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/China_To_Quadruple_ECommerce_Sales_By_End2015____54706.html The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has released a Five Year Plan which foresees e-commerce sales quadrupling to RMB18 trillion in the period to the end of 2015. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Ireland_Appoints_StartUp_Ambassador_In_China____54729.html Enterprise Ireland has appointed an 'International Start-up Ambassador' in China as part of the government's Action Plan for Jobs 2012. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Report_Dissects_Alderneys_Role_In_Full_Tilt_Poker_Case____54687.html Alderney's Gambling Control Commission has welcomed the publication of an independent report into decisions made in relation to three companies which were licensed in Alderney to operate as Full Tilt Poker. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/FTC_Issues_Final_Report_On_US_Data_Privacy____54668.html The Federal Trade Commission has issued its final report setting forth best practices for businesses to protect the privacy of United States consumers and give them greater control over the collection and use of their personal data. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/UK_Confirms_Gambling_Tax_Changes____54613.html Offshore gambling firms have been dealt a blow in the United Kingdom's latest Budget which amends the tax rules applicable to the supply of gambling services to the UK market. Wagers will now be taxed on a point-of-consumption basis, bringing offshore operators under the UK tax net. Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/US_EU_Issue_Joint_Statement_On_Data_Privacy____54578.html A joint statement, following a conference in which both European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding and the United States Commerce Secretary John Bryson participated, confirms the deepening trans-Atlantic dialogue on commercial data privacy issues. Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/UK_Launches_ESellers_Tax_Amnesty____54505.html The UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs, has launched another tax amnesty scheme, this time targeting online marketplace sellers. Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Ireland_To_Extend_Betting_Tax_To_Online_Bookies____54472.html Ireland's online bookmakers will soon be liable to a transactions tax, bringing the country's internet gambling regime in line with that imposed on high-street shops. Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Sarkozy_Relaunches_Debate_On_Google_Tax____54501.html Within the framework of his electoral campaign, French President Nicolas Sarkzoy has recently re-launched the idea of imposing a tax on Internet giants, such as Google. Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/EU_Data_Protection_Rules_Still_Not_Comprehensive_Says_Watchdog____54423.html The European Data Protection Supervisor has generally welcomed the proposed package for a reform of the European Union data protection law, but remains concerned that it is 'far from a comprehensive set of rules'. Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/WIPO_Prepares_for_Launch_of_New_gTLDs____54392.html While trademark holders filed a record number of cybersquatting cases with the World Intellectual Property Organization, pre-emptive measures are being organized to prevent the abusive use of trademarks as generic top-level domains. Wed, 7 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/BT_Talk_Talk_Lose_UK_FileSharing_Appeal____54366.html On March 6, 2012, two of the UK's largest internet service providers, British Telecommunications and Talk Talk, lost their court appeal against the controversial Digital Economy Act 2010, which contains provisions designed to crack down on copyright theft over the internet, is contrary to European Union law. Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Googles_New_Privacy_Policy_Raises_EU_Concerns____54287.html Despite the concern expressed in the preliminary findings of the French data protection regulator, Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés, the internet company Google has gone ahead with the application of its new privacy policy from March 1, 2012. Thu, 1 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/MEPs_Receive_Public_Petition_Against_ACTA____54239.html The European Parliament has received a petition, signed by almost 2.5m people worldwide, calling on its members 'to stand for a free and open internet and reject the ratification of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement'. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.offshore-e-com.com/asp/story/Obama_Unveils_Internet_Bill_of_Rights____54176.html President Barack Obama has unveiled a United States 'Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights' as part of a comprehensive blueprint to protect individual privacy rights and give users more control over how their information is handled on the internet.