Cloud computing services comprise of – Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS). These terms are commonly used to describe the different levels and combinations of services which are together commonly referred to as “cloud computing”.
Continue readingBodle Law
SaaS and the legal cloud made simple
SaaS Agreements – Data Protection – New Proposed EU Rules – Part 2
On the 25th of January 2012 the European Commission published a proposal for a new Data Protection Regulation to replace the existing EU Data Protection Directive. The proposal sets out a general data protection framework aimed at unifying the current differing data protection rules in the EU. Following on from my first article – part 1, I have summarised the remainder of the major changes this will make to EU data protection law below.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – Data Protection – New Proposed EU Rules – Part 1
On the 25th of January 2012 the European Commission published a proposal for a new Data Protection Regulation to replace the existing EU Data Protection Directive. The proposal sets out a general data protection framework aimed at unifying the current differing data protection rules in the EU. I have summarised the major changes this will make to EU data protection law in two articles, part 1 of which is set out below.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – Liability – Online Comments
New proposed UK defamation laws recommend that web hosts (SaaS suppliers) and ISPs should be allowed to keep allegedly defamatory comments online, as long as the author of the comment is identified and a notice of complaint is published next to the comment.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – Software – Copyright Protection
The Advocate General ruled that the functionalities of software are simply “the service which the user expects” from the computer programme. For example, when using software to book an airline ticket the functionalities of the booking process will be the same regardless of which company’s software you use. Such services cannot be protected by copyright. However, what can be protected by copyright, is the means by which the functionalities are achieved as this reflects the author’s own intellectual creation. Protection will depend upon the degree of originality in the writing of the software.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – Data Protection – Data Stored in the USA
SaaS suppliers who use data centres physically located in the USA to store or process data should be aware of a recent US Court of Appeals ruling that the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) – an American law – protects the data of non-USA citizens when their data is stored on servers in the USA.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – Reseller/Distribution – Terms to Include
When using a local partner to resell your SaaS software to customers outside of the countries in which you are based, you will need to have a distributor/reseller agreement in place between yourself and each distributor/reseller. This will in part mirror your standard SaaS terms and conditions but will also need to include additional clauses to cover the issues set out below. Applicable Law and Language Usually your reseller will be located in another country. The reseller will be selling your SaaS software to its customers using its own local
Continue readingWebsite Legal Requirements – Online Sales – New Consumer Rights
If you supply goods and services to consumers via the Internet you will need to change your terms and conditions of sale to incorporate the new EU Consumer Rights Directive before the end of 2013. The new directive harmonises consumer rights protection across the EU for all BTC (business to customer) online sales of goods and services. The directive must be implemented into UK law before the end of 2013 (probably in a Consumer Bill of Rights) which will result in the following compulsory rules applying to online sales.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – Need for an Escrow Agreement
Having an escrow agreement in place protects all parties involved in the development, supply and use of business critical SaaS applications. It provides customers with peace of mind for securing long-term availability of a critical SaaS application by enabling customers to update software and fix any bugs even if the supplier is no longer able to support them.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – Reseller/Distribution – Need for a Reseller Agreement
Most SaaS suppliers use distributors to enable them to sell their software and services to customers who would not otherwise purchase the SaaS software, due to the Supplier’s:
– lack of physical presence in the customer’s country
– lack of sales channels of contacts in the reseller’s country