(Brussels) The new European rules for online platforms – the so-called Platform-to-Business Regulation – which will apply to e-commerce platforms, online booking websites, app stores and search engines, entered into force today. Over the next year, by 20 July 2020 at the latest, businesses will have to adapt to the new rules. The regulation aims to ensure that “businesses providing goods and services in Europe (a million companies) are better informed of online trading practices and have clear rules for resolving disputes”, a statement from the Commission reads. The regulation introduces “obligations for online platforms and search engines in the single market, allowing companies to better understand their rights, especially with regard to ranking in search results, data access and the resolution of disputes”. Even consumers will benefit from an improved competition as a result of these rules. The regulation is “part of the European Commission’s ongoing political initiatives” to regulate the “rapid growth of the online platform economy”. An Online Platform Observatory will monitor the implementation of such rules.