9 January 2007

The accessibility-driven court case against US retailer Target will change the face of e-commerce, a legal expert has claimed.

Martha L Arias, director of online legal advice provider Internet Business Law Services, claims that the ruling will have the same impact upon e-commerce websites as physical disability legislation had on builders and retailers.

The case was brought by the US National Federation of the Blind, which deemed that Target's online offering was failing to comply with accessibility standards and therefore the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"It is going to take many years to see the wisdom on today's decision; that will be the day we recognise [the] Internet as our road and pathway," the expert remarked.

Ms Arias added that retailers could also appeal to a broader range of customers by ensuring that e-commerce portals comply with accessibility guidelines.

In the UK, the Disability Discrimination Act prohibits the exclusion of any individuals from a provided service, both physically and online.

© Adfero Ltd

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