The relationship between law and information technology is a highly dynamic one.

In the past decade, the European Union has developed an extensive legal framework for new technological developments, with legislation being adopted in the areas of personal data protection, public sector information, conditional access and regulatory transparency.

Furthermore, legislative measures have been dedicated to electronic commerce, distance selling, electronic signatures and electronic financial services.

Concise European IT Law aims to offer the reader a rapid understanding of all the provisions of IT law in force in Europe enacted by European and other international institutions. Key features include:

• An article-by-article commentary on the relevant regulations and other legal instruments
• Texts on Data Protection and the multiple texts which will regulate the electronic transactions and operators
• It is intended to provide the reader with a short and straightforward explanation of the principles of law to be drawn from each article, rule or other provision
• Editors and authors are all prominent academics and/or practitioners; experts in their respective fields

Concise European IT Law is part of 'Concise IP', a series of five volumes of commentary on European intellectual property legislation edited by Thomas Dreier, Charles Gielen and Richard Hacon. The formula of this series is based on the successful German and Dutch formula 'KurzKommentar' and 'Tekst en Commentaar'. The five volumes cover: Patents and related matters, Trademarks and designs, Copyright and neighbouring rights, IT and a general volume including jurisdictional issues.