Platform to Business Regulations

Marketplaces on which a commercial transaction between a customer and a business user takes place. Characteristics:

The transaction and payment takes place on the platform. Common business model: The platform charges a commission.

E-commerce market places (Amazon market place, eBay, Etsy, Zalando, Fnac MarketPlace, Opodo, Chrono24 Trusted Checkout, Booking.com, Expedia, Hostelworld, Tripadvisor Instant Booking, Skyscanner Direct Booking, Uber, Airbnb, Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Upwork, Idealo.de, Kindle Direct Publishing, Vimeo (can rent movies), Xbox self-publishing games, Facebook – direct buy function integrated in profiles & Messenger)

App stores (Google Play, Opera Mobile Store, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart World, Sony Playstation, Oculus Gear VR, Alexa Skills)

These are services offered on marketplaces on which a commercial transaction between a customer and a business user takes place (transaction takes place on the platform).

Online platforms bring together users with the aim to “facilitate” a commercial transaction (which does not necessarily take place on the platform itself).

This includes both platforms on which the entire transaction takes place and those where a transaction is initiated, where the customer makes a choice from among different offers, but where the business user can also be contacted to finalize the transaction outside the platform.

The commercial transaction does not necessarily take place on the platform itself (“facilitator” role).

The consumer joins the platform for a variety of reasons, sometimes pro-actively looking to choose between a variety of offers (e.g. houses to buy or rent).

The consumer may contact the business user directly (e.g. make a call, schedule a visit, etc.). The actual payment can take place outside of the platform.

The business user may be charged by the platform in different ways, such as listing fees (the level of which may depend on level of service provided – e.g. additional promotion, improved content, better visibility), charges per click and commissions.

Online platforms bringing together users with the aim to “facilitate” a commercial transaction (which does not necessarily take place on the platform itself)

Characteristics and business models:

The business user has a contractual relationship with the platform.

The consumer joins the platform for a variety of reasons, sometimes pro-actively looking for a possibility to choose between a variety of offers (e.g. houses to buy or rent).

The business user may be charged by the platform in different ways, such as:

Listing fees (the level of which may depend on level of service provided – e.g. additional promotion, improved content, better visibility)

Charges per click

Commissions

Services therefore include:

Facebook (pages, marketplace), Google My Business, Instagram (profiles used by artists, makers), Olx classifieds, Ebay classified ads, Immoweb, Funda, Autoscout, Instagram (‘shop now’ button), la Fourchette (restaurant booking), SoundCloud (can purchase tracks), price comparison websites (to the extent that business users present on those websites have a contract with the platform).