In the guide
Before you start
Make sure you choose your location using the drop-down list at the top of the page.
For more detailed information, please see the In-depth Guides below. Some laws are different in England, Scotland and Wales, and some are enforced differently, so the In-depth Guides provide country-specific information.
Once you've finished, make sure you look at the full range of Quick Guides to see whether there are any other areas of law that affect your business.
Digital content, as distinct from goods and services, is covered directly in law.
The definition of digital content is wide and includes computer programs, smartphone apps, e-books, music and movies on physical media such as CDs and Blu-ray discs, digital content included with goods such as cars or washing machines, as well as that provided by direct download or streaming via the internet to the consumer's equipment.
If you also supply goods and/or services you'll need to read the Quick Guides 'Goods' and 'Services'.
Digital content: your obligations
The trader is obliged to supply, and the consumer has the right to receive, digital content that is:
- of satisfactory quality
- fit for a particular purpose
- as described
What customers are entitled to
If the consumer is supplied with faulty digital content, depending on the nature or extent of problem, they may be entitled to a:
- repair
- replacement
- price reduction
- refund
Where digital content is supplied as an inherent part of physical goods - such as computer systems, smartphones and washing machines - the remedies that are available to the consumer are those for goods.
This is important, as the remedies for goods include the right to reject, which is not available for digital content alone.
Damage caused to devices or other digital content
If supplied digital content causes damage to the consumer's equipment, device or other digital content, and this would not have happened if the trader had used reasonable care and skill, the consumer is entitled to either:
- have the damaged equipment etc repaired by the trader
or - receive compensation from the trader
In-depth guidance
This is a general guide and you may well need to know more; take a look below where we've listed our In-depth Guides on specific topics related to digital contentGeneral
The law prohibits the giving of false or misleading information to consumers, but what does this mean?
Consumers have detailed rights of redress in law when a trader engages in a prohibited practice (a misleading action or an aggressive practice)
Understand your obligations when you sell goods, services and/or digital content alongside each other
Businesses and individuals that publish reviews must ensure they provide the full picture to consumers
Find out how to tell your customers about their legal rights and your goodwill returns policy when they buy goods from you
Understand what your obligations are when a consumer buys goods from you
Contract terms are not binding on consumers unless they are fair
Understand what your obligations are when you supply digital content to a consumer
When dealing with consumers, you must ensure that you act fairly; you must provide accurate information and avoid business practices that are unfair, misleading or aggressive