The definition of an online service provider has expanded to include various services such as banking, shopping, and entertainment websites. The scope of online service providers has increased due to improved copyright laws, including all internet access providers and any online service provider. Online services include personal services, entertainment and information sites, and electronic retail networks. Advantages include increased speed and access to information, while disadvantages include information theft and copyright infringement.
An online service provider is an entity that offers a service over the Internet. This varies from the historical definition, which included commercial communication service providers who connected users to the Internet by offering them personalized services. The current definition expands to include various online services, including online banking, shopping, and entertainment websites.
The historical definition of an online service provider used to distinguish between Internet access providers who host their own individual sites and content from Internet service providers who simply connected users to the Internet. This historic definition only included Internet access providers that offer things like email, news, and sometimes your own web browser. The definition then changed to include various Internet service providers without additional services and through this transformation it achieved its current purpose.
The terminology has gained international prominence and definition due to improved copyright laws. In the United States, for example, the term has been legally expanded due to the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act (OCILLA) section of the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This act included all Internet access providers to be considered online service providers, as well as any online service provider. By extending the definition to any provider, the scope of an online service provider has increased tremendously.
Whereas any company that offers a service over the Internet is considered an online service provider, the current scope is vast and variations of the service vary. Personal services offered by online providers include email, e-banking, and information storage. Offering these online services has greatly increased the speed of communication and reduced the time spent on weekly administrative tasks. These advantages come with the disadvantages of information theft via increased potential for account access.
Entertainment and information sites are also regarded as online service providers. Online entertainment providers offer music, books, and video access, varying in style and hosting methods. Service providers that offer information online include news, search engines, and government sites. The benefits of these providers include broad dissemination of knowledge and access to various sources of information. The downsides include copyright infringement, theft, and concerns about the accuracy of the leaked information.
Businesses that offer online services can also include electronic retail networks. An online store is also considered an online service provider. The benefits of having an online store can include rent savings, window advertising, and employee salaries. Disadvantages can include frequent technology and website updates, lack of traffic associated with physical establishments, and additional advertising costs to bring traffic to a website.
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