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Withy King reports... Don't Let Cookies See Your Finances Crumble!

Creative Bath brings you the latest technology and media bulletin from our sponsors, Withy King Solicitors.

You might be breathing a sigh of relief following the announcement from Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to give website owners until May 2012 to comply with the new EU “cookie law”. The law means that all websites will have to ask their visitors for permission to use cookies. 


So what is a cookie? A cookie is a small file that can be downloaded on to whatever electronic device you’re using to access certain websites. A cookie allows the website to recognize your device and may pass on information concerning your activities and preferences.

All websites that use Google Analytics for tracking visitors will use cookies. 

May 2012 might seem far away, but by using the time wisely, you can make sure you’re not in danger of getting your fingers burnt with legal fines and penalties and leaving your cookies half-baked!

What you need to do:

Decide which cookies are strictly necessary – The regulations don’t need user consent where the cookie is "strictly necessary" to allow the website to provide a service – for example, adding to online shopping baskets.

Decide how to go about getting consent from visitors for intrusive cookies – ICO has not given any guidance on how to do this, as they feel that each website owner is best placed to work out what their visitors will understand.

What's worrying most website owners is:

How do they get consent from visitors without getting in their way?
How long will visitors put up with permission requests every time they go to a new site?

Is this the year when the dreaded "pop ups" make a come back?
How much data will Google Analytics be reporting back once people start rejecting cookies?

The current compliance steps haven’t been made available for the new law, so it’s difficult for us to help you with the best way of dealing with them. What we can do is look over your website consent forms/ agreements to make sure that you are as up to speed as you can be and not left in the firing line for fines or penalties.

David Cavaliero is a key member of the Technology & Media team at Withy King and has significant industry expertise in the information technology sector. He has been advising one of the UK's leading providers of company information in relation to their technology and IP licensing agreements for over 15 years. You can contact David on 01225 352821 or email : david.cavaliero@withyking.co.uk
 

Posted by:

Emma Chappel

Sector:

Digital

Tags:

cookies, technology, Withy_King