How to Address EU & UK Company Disclosure Rules with Minimal Effort
Introduction
Publishing accurate company information isn’t just a business best practice; it’s a legal requirement across multiple jurisdictions. Regulations, including the EU DSA, France’s LCEN, Germany’s TTDSG “Impressum” rules, and the UK’s EC Directive Regulations, all require businesses to make legal identity, registration, and contact information accessible online.
Managing these disclosures across multiple websites, apps, and marketplaces can be challenging. Each update often requires coordination between legal, marketing, and technical teams, which can lead to delays or inconsistencies. Centralized tools that automate publication can help simplify the process and reduce the risk of omissions.
Why company disclosures matter under EU and UK law
Company disclosures provide transparency and help build trust between businesses and their customers. They also make it easier for authorities to enforce consumer protection rules. Without clear information, customers may find it difficult to verify a business’s legitimacy or know where to address concerns.
In the EU and UK, disclosure obligations also support broader policy goals such as fair competition, online safety, and accessibility.
Core legal frameworks requiring company disclosures
- EU Digital Services Act (DSA) – Requires online service providers to publish clear, easily accessible information identifying the service provider and explaining how users can contact them. This applies to platforms, marketplaces, hosting services, and more.
- France – LCEN – France’s Loi n° 2004-575 (LCEN) requires online publishers to include business identification information such as name, address, registration details, and contact methods. The law also outlines additional obligations for professional publishers and online service providers.
- Germany – TTDSG – The Telekommunikation-Telemedien-Datenschutz-Gesetz combines telecom and telemedia disclosure rules. German websites are required to provide clear “Impressum” information, including company name, address, registration number, and responsible contact person.
- UK – EC Directive Regulations – These regulations require businesses providing online services to supply their name, geographic address, email address, company registration number, and any trade or professional registration details.
Framework | Summary text |
|---|---|
DSA | Requires clear, easy-to-find information about the service provider, including how users can contact them. Applies to online platforms, marketplaces, hosting services. |
France – LCEN | Requires online publishers to display name, address, registration details, and contact methods. Extra rules for professional publishers. |
Germany – TTDSG | Requires an “Impressum” with company name, address, registration number, and responsible contact person. |
UK – EC Directive Regulations | Requires online service providers to publish name, address, email, registration number, and trade/professional registration details. |
What businesses must disclose online
While the exact requirements vary by jurisdiction, common elements include:
- Legal or trading name
- Registered office address
- Contact information (email, telephone)
- Registration number and issuing authority
- VAT identification number (where applicable)
- Details of relevant licenses or supervisory authorities
- Accessibility statements where required
Common challenges in managing disclosures
- Multiple touchpoints – Websites, mobile apps, partner marketplaces, and internal portals all require updates.
- Regulatory variation – Differences in disclosure rules between jurisdictions.
- Version control – Being sure that the latest information is published everywhere.
- Coordination – Aligning legal, marketing, and IT departments on updates.
These operational challenges increase the risk of non-compliance and expose organizations to enforcement action or user confusion.
Penalties for non-compliance
Failure to publish the required information can lead to administrative fines, legal action, or reputational harm. For example:
- Under LCEN, fines can reach €75,000 for individuals and €375,000 for legal entities.
- Under TTDSG, violations can result in administrative penalties.
- In the UK, enforcement actions can be brought by Trading Standards or other authorities.
The cost of non-compliance can far outweigh the effort of maintaining accurate online disclosures.
Jurisdiction | Penalties |
|---|---|
France – LCEN | Fines up to €75,000 (individuals) and €375,000 (companies). |
Germany – TTDSG | Administrative penalties for missing or incorrect details. |
UK | Enforcement actions from Trading Standards or other authorities. |
Other | Risk of legal action and reputational damage. |
Staying ahead of changing requirements
To maintain accurate disclosures:
- Monitor updates to EU and national online disclosure laws
- Use structured company profiles to simplify updates across platforms
- Train internal teams on evolving disclosure obligations
How Clym simplifies disclosure management
Clym offers a centralized Company Data Management solution that allows you to enter your business information once and have it displayed across your websites, applications, and other connected platforms.
With Clym, you can:
- Create a centralized company profile containing all required details.
- Publish that profile across multiple digital properties from one location.
- Make updates in a single place and apply them instantly everywhere.
- Maintain a consistent format for easier recognition and verification.
By using structured data, Clym supports more efficient updates and reduces the possibility of missing mandatory information on any property.
Conclusion
EU and UK disclosure rules, under DSA, LCEN, TTDSG, and EC Directive regulations, mandate clear, correct business identification online. While the burden of managing these across digital properties can be high, solutions like Clym’s centralized data management reduce effort and risk. Automate once, update everywhere, with confidence.
FAQs
They allow customers, partners, and regulators to identify and contact a business, supporting transparency and trust.
No. There are common elements, but each country may add its own requirements, such as Germany’s Impressum rules.
They should be checked whenever there are changes in company details, and at least annually to confirm accuracy.
Yes. If your business operates on these platforms, the same legal obligations apply.
Automation reduces manual work, but periodic checks help with legal and operational accuracy.
You may face fines, legal actions, and potential reputational damage.
An Impressum is a type of legal notice specific to countries like Germany, but it contains similar core details as other disclosures.
In many jurisdictions, it’s advisable, or required, to provide disclosures in the primary language(s) of the target audience.
Yes, provided it’s easy to find and labeled clearly (e.g., “Legal Notice” or “Company Information”).
Clym’s Company Data Management tool allows you to create a centralized company profile and automatically publish it across your websites, apps, and marketplaces. Updates can be made in one place and reflected instantly everywhere.
Yes. Clym’s platform maintains a version history, allowing you to review and reference past details if needed.
Yes. Clym works with major CMS and e-commerce platforms via widgets or code snippets.
Alex is a Content Developer at Clym, where he researches and writes about everything related to data privacy and web accessibility compliance for businesses, helping them stay informed on their compliance needs and spreading awareness about making the web safer and more inclusive. When he’s not writing about compliance, Alex has his nose in a book or is hiking in the great outdoors.
Find out more about Alex