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Authors: Mark Grabowski, Eric P. Robinson
Cited by: 0

Abstract

Every time you click “Add to cart,” scroll through a social media feed or stream a song or movie, you’re entering a maze of unseen legal rules. The digital marketplace isn’t just a tech marvel: it’s a legal battlefield, where trillion-dollar antitrust cases play out alongside the fine print you probably skip by not reading terms of service. In 2024 alone, Americans spent over $1 trillion online, as e-commerce now accounts for more than 16% of all U.S. retail sales. But that boom has triggered growing scrutiny, from lawsuits against Big Tech to new regulations reshaping how we shop, speak and share online. This chapter unpacks the biggest legal issues of online business: how courts handle accessibility, how influencers get fined for hidden ads and why your shopping cart now includes sales tax. Whether you’re a consumer, creator or entrepreneur, understanding these rules is key to navigating—and thriving in—the digital economy.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Digitalization Law and Regulation Diverse Legal and Medical Studies Intellectual Property Rights and Media

Publication details

Journal / source
Routledge eBooks
Pages
205–231
Publication date
6 February 2026
Language
EN
Document type
Book chapter