KV TechLegal
Sectors

E-commerce and marketplaces

Online stores, D2C brands and platforms connecting buyers and sellers.

In short

If you sell online, or run a platform where others sell, consumer protection rules and the IT Act both apply to how the site works.

An online store sells to consumers directly, while a marketplace connects buyers with other sellers. Indian law treats the two differently. A marketplace that hosts third-party listings is usually an intermediary under the IT Act, with duties to act on complaints and remove unlawful listings.

Both are covered by the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020. These require the platform to show seller details, prices and return policies clearly, to appoint a grievance officer, and to avoid presenting prices or search results in ways that mislead buyers.

Much of the practical risk sits in the agreements with sellers, logistics partners and payment providers, which decide who is responsible for defective goods, late deliveries and refunds. The terms shown to customers need to match those agreements, otherwise the platform can end up carrying risks it meant to pass on.

What usually comes up

Under the DPDP Act

E-commerce entities with at least two crore registered users in India must erase a user's personal data after three years of inactivity, and must tell the user at least 48 hours before erasing it.

What our work involves

Related areas of work

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