Did you know that companies in the UK must now include certain regulatory information on their websites and in their email footers or they will breach the Companies Act and risk a fine. The legislation came into force on 1st January 2007 so if you don’t have it on your website we would recommend you add it. The information does not need to appear on every page and many websites will list the required information, on their ‘About’ or ‘Legal’ pages.

Companies Act 2006 and Business Names Act 1985

Every UK company should list on its website:

• its name
• its company registration number;
• its place of registration; and
• its registered office address.

Sole traders and partnerships who carry on a business in the UK under a business name (very roughly, not the names of the trader/partners) must also make certain website disclosures:

• in the case of a sole trader, the individual’s name;
• in the case of a partnership, the name of each member of the partnership;
• in either case, in relation to each person named, an address in the UK at which service of any document relating in any way to the business will be effective.

See http://www.website-law.co.uk/blog/internet-law/website-legal-information-basic-requirements/ for more information.