UK SaaS Agreements: In light of the various leaving scenarios of which a “no deal Brexit” is looking likely, it is highly advisable that SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers now take steps to ensure that they can continue to lawfully process and transfer personal data between the EU and the UK following Brexit.
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SaaS Agreements – Brexit – Prepare Now
As a SaaS Supplier or SaaS customer you will be aware that the UK plans to leave the EU on the 29th of March 2019 – Brexit. In light of the various leaving scenarios currently being discussed of which a “no deal Brexit” is looking likely, it is essentail that SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers take steps now to ensure that they can continue to lawfully process and transfer personal data between the EU and the UK following Brexit.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – GDPR – Local Derogations
The General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) now applies to all SaaS customers and SaaS companies collecting or processing the personal data of individuals located within the EU. SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers must comply with the terms the GDPR. SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers should be aware that the GDPR does not however fully harmonise data protection law throughout the EU, as each EU country may introduce their own requirements in certain instances (“derogations”) under their own local data protection laws.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – GDPR – Data Protection Act 2018
The UK Data Protection Act 2018 Act came into force on the 25th of May 2018 (“DPA”).
The DPA replaces the Data Protection Act 1998 in its entirety and applies the standards of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR), whilst also attempting to prepare the UK data protection law for Brexit. SaaS customers and SaaS suppliers should familiarise themselves with the terms of the DPA in addition to the provisions of the GDPR – as both apply. The DPA also includes a number of derogations from the GDPR.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – GDPR – Age of Consent
The General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the new Data Protection Act 2018 (“DPA”) now apply in the UK. SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers must comply with the terms of both the GDPR and the DPA. SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers should be aware that the GDPR does not fully harmonise data protection law throughout Europe, as each EU country may introduce their own requirements in certain instances (“derogations”). SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers who operate in, or collect or process personal data from persons located in different EU countries need to be aware of the different rules in each EU country.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – Brexit – EU Data Transfers to the UK after Brexit
Under EU and UK data protection laws, UK SaaS suppliers are lawfully permitted to transfer personal data of SaaS customers located in the EU to any country within the EEA. From the 30th of March 2019, when the UK leaves the EU (“Brexit Date”), the UK will no longer be part of the EEA and will become a “third country” for data protection purposes, just like the USA.
The European Commission recently confirmed in a Notice that on the Brexit Date, UK based SaaS suppliers can no longer lawfully transfer personal data of SaaS customers located in the EU (i.e. in France, Germany, Spain etc.) to the UK,
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – GDPR – US Companies
From the 25th of May 2018 the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force and change existing UK data protection laws. The GDPR does not just apply to SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers located in the EU. The GDPR also applies extraterritorially, i.e. to SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers located outside of the EU, for example in the USA, as set out below.
GDPR Applies to US SaaS Customers and SaaS Suppliers
The GDPR will apply to SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers located in the USA if:
They offer goods or services to SaaS customers located within the EU; or
They monitor the behaviour of EU data subjects;
Even though the SaaS supplier or SaaS Customer is not located within the EU.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – GDPR – The General Data Protection Regulation
The General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) will replace the existing EU Data Protection Directive and harmonise European data protection law from the 25th of May 2018. In the UK the GDPR will replace the Data Protection Act 1998 from the 25th of May 2018, regardless of “Brexit”. This will have a significant effect on both SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers who will need to comply with the terms of the GDPR. SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers must update all contractual documents that involve data processing, such as SaaS agreements, privacy policies and hosting and support agreements to comply with the new rules under the GDPR before the 25th of May deadline.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – GDPR – New German Data Protection Law (BDSG)
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will replace the existing EU Data Protection Directive and aims to harmonise European data protection law from the 25th of May 2018. In Germany, the Government has already amended the existing German Data Protection Act (BDSG) and from the 25th of May 2018 the New German Data Protection Act (New BDSG) and the GDPR will apply together.
Compliance with the New BDSG
Both SaaS suppliers and SaaS customers who provide services to German clients or who collect or process personal data of German data subjects on behalf of international SaaS clients, will need to comply with the terms of the New BDSG in addition to the terms of the GDPR. The New BDSG sets out derogations from certain parts of the GDPR and additional obligations.
Continue readingSaaS Agreements – FAQs – What is SaaS and Essential Terms to include in a SaaS Agreement
SaaS is the abbreviation for “software as a service”. You may know this under another name, for example subscription agreement, software on demand, software subscription agreement, cloud computing or ASP services (application service provider). These names all refer to the same thing – software being made available via the Internet to users.
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