Poles facing online discrimination can now turn to the EC’s guide to online rights
Despite the large number of internet-based businesses which have taken off in Poland in recent years – including internet auction sites and online shops – Poles are still wary of purchasing from foreign websites. Polish web users are not treated on par with other European citizens when shopping online from companies overseas.

Apple’s iTunes online media retailer, for example, does not allow users from Poland to purchase music and films from its service. As to why Poles are not allowed to buy from the site, the retailer was quoted by Gazeta Wyborcza as citing “restrictions resulting from the territorial rights and the rights of copyright.”

In order to break down digital barriers, the European Commission last week unveiled the “eYouGuide,” an online tool to address such issues as shopping on the web, downloading music and protecting personal data online. The guideline is meant to create a common ground upon which both consumers and retailers can learn about their online rights.

“In the EU, consumer rights online should not depend on where a company or website is based,” Viviane Reding, the EU commissioner for information society and media, said in a statement.“National borders shuld no longer complicate European consumers’ lives when they go online to buy a book or download a song,” Reding said. “In spite of progress made, we need to ensure that there is a single market for consumers as well as businesses on the web.”

Aneta Styrnik, from the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, said that her organization welcomed proposals for changes aimed at increasing consumers’ protection. “It is worth remembering that even today consumers using services available online have important rights, including withdrawing from a contract within 10 days without any consequences,” she said.