Legal Matters: Beware of the Cookie Monster

Many retailers selling products to European customers were understandably concerned that compliance with a strict user consent standard would mandate placement on the homepages of their websites of a pop-up box or header/footer bar requiring users to click on to "accept" cookies from the website after having first been offered the option to read the information page. Such notice and opt-in requirements would undoubtedly unnerve many visitors. In addition, should consumers decide not to permit the use of cookies, their shopping experience would likely be severely compromised, thereby adversely affecting merchant performance.