The organization EDiMA, representing European online platforms, asked Copenhagen Economics to study their economic impact. The study Online Intermediaries: Assessing the Economic Impact of the EU’s Online Liability Regime was released on 12 January 2012 following the communication on e-commerce from the European Commission. The study estimates that online platforms – such as e-commerce and video sharing sites, search engines, social networks and cloud computing providers – contribute more than €310bn to European GDP each year.   In the report, we show that online intermediaries in Europe directly contribute €160bn to European GDP per year as well as productivity gains worth €150bn per year, creating a total annual contribution of €310bn. We also highlight benefits that goes “beyond GDP”. According to our assessment, online platforms are able to contribute to the European economy at this scale because of the liability limitation provisions of the EU’s E-Commerce Directive. These provisions give the legal certainty necessary to offer online and e-commerce services across Europe’s emerging Digital Single Market.   In its Communication on E-commerce and the Digital Single Market, the European Commission set out its plans to double the contribution of e-commerce to European GDP by 2015. As the Commission highlights, addressing obstacles to the growth of e-commerce will yield significant benefits for European consumers and businesses and the European economy as a whole.   Martin H. Thelle, Partner at Copenhagen Economics said: “A large part of Europe’s digital economy is made up of online intermediaries. They bring employment and value to the economy and form one of the fastest growing sectors in Europe.”  He added: “in our view, European policymakers made a wise choice when they enshrined liability limitations for online platforms in the E-Commerce Directive and it seems they are making another smart move by further strengthening the current regime.”   To read the report, click here   For further information on the Commission’s communication, please see: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/e-commerce/communication_2012_en.htm   For further information on EDiMA, please see: www.europeandigitalmedia.org   For further information on the Copenhagen Economics study or inquiries on our Digital Economy service, please contact partner Marthin Hvidt Thelle