Technology Law · European Union
Build and Run an Online Marketplace Without the Regulatory Pitfalls
Operating a marketplace puts you between buyers and sellers, and European law now imposes specific duties on platform operators — seller vetting, transparency, liability and tax reporting that a simple shop never faces. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who advises marketplace operators every day, so your platform scales without legal exposure.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- Lawyers across the EU & EEA
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Who this is for
A marketplace is a different legal animal to a shop — and the law treats it that way
Marketplace law governs platforms that connect third-party buyers and sellers — the rules on your liability for what sellers do, your duties to vet and monitor them, the information you must disclose, and your obligations around payments, tax reporting and consumer protection. Whether you’re launching a two-sided marketplace for goods, services, rentals or digital products, or already running one across several countries, you sit in a regulated middle position: you are not simply a seller, yet you carry responsibilities a neutral intermediary never had to think about. European law has tightened these duties significantly in recent years, and marketplaces now face scrutiny over counterfeit goods, unsafe products, seller fraud and VAT collection. A lawyer experienced with marketplace operators can map your obligations precisely and design contracts and processes that keep you on the right side of them.
Why operators get exposed
Marketplaces don’t usually break under growth.
They break under unmanaged platform duties.
Between seller and buyer sits a dense set of legal duties — and regulators, tax authorities and consumers all know where to find you.
Liability for sellers’ actions
Whether you’re liable for defective goods, misleading listings or a seller’s misconduct depends heavily on your role and processes. Blurred boundaries between ‘neutral intermediary’ and ‘active platform’ can pull you into disputes you thought weren’t yours.
Vetting and transparency duties
European rules increasingly require marketplaces to verify sellers, disclose their identity and report information. Missing these duties can mean enforcement action, not just unhappy customers.
Tax and payment obligations
Marketplaces are often treated as the deemed supplier for VAT, meaning collection and reporting duties sit with you. Getting the model wrong can create back-tax liabilities across multiple countries.
What you get
A marketplace lawyer who designs compliance in from the start
We only match you with lawyers who specialise in platform and marketplace regulation, not generalists learning on your business.
Obligations mapped to your model
Your lawyer analyses how your marketplace actually works — who lists, who transacts, who holds funds — and tells you precisely which legal duties attach, so you build compliance around reality, not assumptions.
Contracts for every side
Get seller terms, buyer terms and marketplace policies drafted to allocate risk clearly and support your position as intermediary, reducing the chance of being drawn into third-party disputes.
Vetting & moderation processes
Design practical seller-vetting, listing and takedown procedures that satisfy your legal duties without paralysing growth — the kind of operational compliance that regulators actually look for.
Regulator & platform-risk defence
Already received a takedown, an authority request or a claim over a seller’s conduct? Your lawyer responds, corrects the process gap and defends the platform’s position.
Coverage
Marketplace lawyers across Europe
Platform regulation is set at EU level but applied and enforced nationally, and marketplaces routinely face obligations in every country where their users live. The right lawyer understands both the framework and its local enforcement. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Marketplace law — common questions
What makes my platform a marketplace rather than a shop?
A marketplace is generally a platform that enables transactions between independent third parties, where you are not the seller of the goods or services. The distinction matters because it changes your liability, consumer-protection and tax duties, so it should be assessed carefully against how your platform actually operates.
Am I liable for what sellers on my platform do?
It depends on your role and how active you are. Platforms that simply host listings may enjoy limited liability, but if you influence the transaction, handle payments or promote listings, your exposure grows. A lawyer can assess your specific model and advise where your boundaries should be drawn.
Do I have to verify the sellers on my marketplace?
Increasingly, yes. European rules now require many marketplaces to collect and verify certain information about sellers and, in some cases, to report it. The precise duties depend on your size, sector and location, and are best confirmed with a specialist.
Who is responsible for VAT on marketplace sales?
In many cases the marketplace is treated as the deemed supplier and must collect and remit VAT on sales it facilitates. The rules vary by sector and country, and getting them wrong can create significant back-tax exposure, so early structuring advice is valuable.
What should my marketplace terms and policies cover?
They should address seller eligibility and vetting, listing rules, prohibited content, liability and indemnities, payments, dispute handling, termination and data use. Because they allocate risk between you, sellers and buyers, they are best drafted by a lawyer who understands platform regulation.
What do I do if I receive a takedown notice or regulator request?
Respond promptly and keep clear records. Notices often carry strict deadlines, and the correct response depends on whether they come from a rights holder, a consumer authority or another regulator. A lawyer can help you assess the request and reply without admitting liability unnecessarily.
Free case review
Run your marketplace on solid legal ground
Tell us about your platform and the markets you serve, and we’ll connect you with a marketplace lawyer who handles platform regulation every day — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.