Setting business ground rules for e-commerce
Paris, 17 December 1998
- The International Chamber of Commerce is setting ground rules for seamless
and secure electronic commerce through its Electronic
Commerce Project (ECP), which brings together business specialists with
a broad range of commercial and industrial expertise.
The ECP, headed by ke Nilson, Director of Marinade
Ltd (UK), includes members of ICC commissions covering international commercial
practice, telecommunications and information technology, banking and financial
services, insurance, and the transport industry. The International Bureau of
Chambers of Commerce – a partner in the World
Chambers Network on-line trading service – also participates.
ECP builds on ICC’s experience and authority
over most of the 20th century in making the rules that govern paper-based
trade. In preparing a firm foundation for electronic commerce, it builds on
its reputation as a trusted and unbiased third party. It takes advantage of
its involvement in issues vital to international business, such as security,
competition, intellectual property, commercial law and practice and marketing
ethics.
As ECP products take shape,
the ICC web site will publish full explanatory
reports and texts. A key product – the GUIDEC
(General Usage for International Digitally Ensured Commerce) is already
in place.
Now the ECP is going on to produce foundation rules
for electronic trade and settlements and an on-line repository containing all
the tools and references necessary for drawing up contracts on-line with a minimum
of risk. Visitors to the ICC web site will be kept informed of progress.
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