Offshore E-Commerce Law Diploma

The Offshore E-Commerce Law Diploma is presented and administered by Internet Business Law Services (IBLS) and Global E-Commerce Council (GECC).

The curriculum is designed to show:

Additional Diploma will be developed over the next few years, giving rise to a comprehensive range of Diplomas in E-Commerce, each providing that global insight needed by today’s practitioners and entrepreneurs.

COURSE MATERIALS

ASSESSMENTS

DIPLOMA

INTEREST AND ELIGIBILITY

FEES AND SCHEDULE

BOOKING CONDITIONS

SPONSORSHIP

E-COMMERCE UNIVERSITY CONTACT INFORMATION

COURSE MATERIALS:

This Diploma has been developed and customized with the specific needs of the online community in mind – timely information that can be immediately used for e-business practice. Experts and experienced practitioners, from around the world, have designed the materials for the Offshore E-Commerce Diploma.

Each module contains text material, study guide instruction, and weekly interactive participation. Text material may contain a combination of code sections, cases, and commentary materials or news articles that are available on the Internet. Study guides contain commentary materials upon the text materials with exercises and assignments to be completed independently.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MODULES

1. Introduction to Offshore E-Commerce

What does this mean? How does this work? This Module constitutes a global introduction to the course. After a brief historical background, you will be provided with several useful definitions, and introduced to the reality of offshore e-commerce. You will learn about the main players, the technology required and the risks involved.

2. Why Move Offshore?

A growing number of e-businesses are considering offshore options. Like them, there are a variety of reasons why you should think of going offshore. These reasons include the fundamental issues of asset protection, profit, and tax shelter. The tax issues are often the main motivation for e-businesses operating in high tax countries, and clearly, the financial incentives available offshore may be rewarding. However, there are a number of other considerations that are relevant when considering the offshore option. E-businesses must take into account a variety of factors before making the move. In this course, you will learn what factors should be considered before going offshore.

3. Corporate Structure

The development of an e-business offshore requires an appropriate corporate structure, which is a real company engaging in international trade and commerce on a daily basis. The choice of an offshore corporate structure usually requires more than a simple off-the-shelf company. E-businesses must carefully plan and structure the corporate vehicle that will be used. This implies taking into account not only the needs of directors, shareholders and investors, but also accommodating every facet of the business, such as marketing, hosting of the web-site, payment solutions, banking, customer care, distribution and repatriation of profits, management and control, etc.

4. Tax Aspects

You might consider that the basic principle in the establishment of an offshore company is simple; it is basically a question of transferring highly profitable business activities to more favorable tax jurisdictions (formerly known as "tax havens," and now called "international financial centers.") However, the reality is much more complicated, and before simply “closing shop” and re-locating to a low direct tax jurisdiction, there are a number of taxation issues that require thorough evaluation. Some of these include: (i) the notion of “doing business in a country” (ii) branch or agency, (iii) permanent establishment, (iv) withholding taxes, (v) VAT, (vi) transfer pricing, etc.

5. Offshore Jurisdiction

Once the decision has been made to move offshore, one of the main concerns is the choice of a jurisdiction. There are plenty of offshore jurisdictions available, from exotic paradises to South American countries, and choosing among these might be confusing. In this Module, you will learn that several factors are key in determining which jurisdiction is the most appropriate for your business. These include: (i) the function that will be based offshore (e.g.: sales and marketing, treasury management, supply of financial services, supply of digital goods such as music, video, training, software, etc.), (ii) the geographical location, (iii) the telecommunications links, (iv) the business infrastructure, (v) the cost and skills of the local labor force, (vi) the local legislation on e-commerce and corporations, etc. Some popular offshore jurisdictions will be described in the course of this Module.

6. Offshore Financial Centers

The offshore industry has developed into a major business spanning all quarters of the globe, and involving in one way or another, half of the world's financial transactions by value. Offshore financial centers are all rushing to get involved in e-commerce so they can attract technology entrepreneurs to their shores. This competition leads to a much-improved level of services. The key institution for an offshore e-commerce operation is of course a bank, and there is wide variety in the level and scale of banking operations in offshore jurisdictions. Before you make the move, you should list what type of financial services your operations require, such as (i) banking services, (ii) offshore fund management (including mutual and pension funds), (iii) professional support services, (iv) trusts and foundations, (v) trustees, (vi) administrators, (vii) tax privileges for expatriate employees and for resident foreigners, etc. Offshore payment will be specifically studied.

7. The Regulation of Offshore E-Commerce

In this Module, you will be introduced to the different regulations and legislations affecting e-commerce, and specifically offshore e-commerce. In addition to the laws of the main developed countries, several supranational bodies are involved in the regulation of offshore e-commerce, including the European Union and the OECD. The global nature of the Internet implies that the different approaches and interactions between these different regulations must be taken into account before setting up an offshore strategy.

8. Fraud Prevention

Many of the established offshore financial centers have experienced considerable growth over the past 10 years, but a few have suffered major set-backs arising from scandals relating to fraud or drug offences. Such events reinforced the pressure from international bodies and national taxation authorities for better regulation of international services in order to prevent illicit activities. E-businesses considering moving offshore should keep abreast of the latest “anti-offshore” developments, because these measures often carry the possibility of sanctions designed to harm the financial service sectors of the targeted offshore jurisdictions. These sanctions have a repercussion on the e-businesses established in these jurisdictions, since many of these jurisdictions adjust their tax practices and introduce new legislation. This Module will teach you exactly what practices should be avoided in order to remain on the safe side.

9. Offshore E-Commerce Applications

This Module adopts a very practical approach and is intended at guiding e-businesses through the successive steps to be taken when going offshore. In this perspective, several typical case scenarios are presented, involving different types of activities, ownership structure, country of origin, capital structure, etc.

10. Niches and Future Trends

There are general trends affecting the development of offshore e-commerce. With regards to taxation, for instance, it can be expected that the battle between onshore and offshore will continue until a solution is found to the problem of how to tax cross-border e-commerce transactions. Until them, the rich countries will exert pressure towards the development of regulation designed to protect them against loss of tax revenue. As a consequence, the most criticized jurisdictions should be avoided. In this Module, you will also be introduced to some activities that seem to be viable offshore e-commerce niches for the future, such as corporate online learning, offshore outsourcing, offshore distribution of digital products, etc.

ASSESSMENTS:

The program is assessed by a written assessment at the end of the 8-week program, which are marked by the course faculty and returned with comments. All assessments are written and answered in English.

DIPLOMA:

Upon completion and passing the assessment, a Diploma in Offshore E-Commerce Law is awarded. This Diploma is awarded in cooperation with Global E-Commerce Council GECC www.eCommerceCouncil.org

INTEREST AND ELIGIBILITY:

This program is of interest to all professionals including but not limited to attorneys, accountants, financial planners and other business executives and entrepreneurs who need to increase skills and competence in areas concerning the Offshore E-Commerce.

FEES AND SCHEDULE:

The Diploma Program is scheduled to begin in September. The course is taught via live online instruction, discussions via discussion board or forum, projects, all part of the dynamic interaction. This course is taught by distinguished law professors who are experts in this and other legal fields that they practice. The tuition for the Diploma Program is $980 U.S., and includes the instructions and all course materials.

BOOKING CONDITIONS:

PAYMENT OF FEES:

Fees must be paid in full in U.S. Dollars upon enrolment along with completed application.

CONTRACT:

The completion and submission of an application form does not constitute a contract between E-Commerce University and the candidate. A contract shall exist only on acceptance by the E-Commerce University in writing of the candidate’s application form and shall incorporate these booking conditions. The laws of USA shall apply in all respects and the courts of USA shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

COPYRIGHT:

The copyright of all study materials remains that of E-Commerce University. Such materials may not be reproduced either in whole or in part, by any method whatsoever, without permission having been given in writing by the E-Commerce University. Once enrolled, study materials become accessible only to the candidate to whom they paid for the course and may not be used by any other person.

MATERIAL:

The Diploma involves twelve weekly modules that are delivered through on-line instruction and Black Board specifications. Each module will contain text material, study guide instruction, and weekly interactive participation. Text material may contain a combination of code sections, cases, and commentary materials or news.

LANGUAGE:

All study materials and assessments are supplied in the English language only.

ASSESSMENT PAPERS:

Candidates will receive written comments from E-Commerce University on their performance.

CANCELLATION:

Candidates may cancel their registration by notice in writing to E-Commerce University (provided such notice is received by E-Commerce University before release of their ID and Password for accessing the course materials), whereupon the candidate shall be entitled to a refund of the fee for the course and course materials in question less an administrative fee of $100. No cancellation will be permitted after the release of ID and Password for accessing the course materials.

VARIATION IN DIPLOMA PROGRAM:

The E-Commerce University Diploma Program is offered subject to demand. E-Commerce University reserve the right to vary the module contents or cease offering any or all of the module contents for any of E-Commerce University Diploma Program.

SPONSORSHIP:

Sponsorship of the Diploma in Global Cybercrime Law represents an unique opportunity for your Company to reach targeted audience and send your marketing message, through other than traditional channels.

IBLS CONTACT INFORMATION:

For more information, please contact Martha Arias, director of IBLS Online Education at: marias@ibls.com