Baazee.com: Unethical business practices *

Abstract:

The caselet debates the efficacy of cyber laws in India. It takes a detailed look at the breach of the IT Act of India 2000 by Baazee.com, an online auction site, and presents the concerns of the people at large about the liability for crimes on the Internet. The caselet also explains the enactment of the IT Act of India in 2000 and looks into why it lacks bite.

Issues: » Prosecution of IT-related cases in India. » Breach of IT Act of India 2000 by Bazee.com, an online auction site. » Doubts on the efficacy of India's cyberlaws. » Who should be legally liable for circulation of pornography or any other sensitive material on the Internet? Introduction Until 2000, any information technology-related case was prosecuted on the basis of Indian Telephone and Telegraph Act (1882). The Information Technology (IT) Act, which was enacted in 2000, created a basic structure for e-commerce in India. However, the arrest of Avinash Bajaj, CEO of Baazee.com in 2004 raised serious doubts on the efficacy of India's cyberlaws. On 17th December 2004, Delhi Police arrested Avinash Bajaj, CEO of the popular Internet auction website Baazee.com, on charges of allowing...

Questions for Discussion:

1. Comment on the proceedings against Avinash Bajaj. What effect it could have on the Indian online industry?
2. Is there any need to take a re-look at the Indian cyberlaws? Justify your views.

Key words:
Indian Telephone and Telegraph Act (1882), The Information Technology (IT) Act (2000), Baazee.com, India's cyberlaws, e-bay.com, IT laws, Delhi Public School, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

More ICMR India Case Studies

Business Environment	Business Ethics	Business Reports	Business Strategy
Corporate Governance	Economics	Enterprise Risk Management	Finance
HRM	Innovation	Insurance	IT and Systems
Leadership and Entrepreneurship	Marketing	Miscellaneous	Operations
Project Management	Short Case Studies	Cases in other Languages	Free Case Studies

* This caselet is intended for use only in class discussions.
** More comprehensive case studies are priced at Rs.200 to Rs.700 (US $5 to US $16) per copy.