Advertising red tape I was amused to see on the reverse side of your article on advertising law (see [2001] Gazette, 17 May, 30), which was wonderfully illustrated with a picture of Britney Spears, an advertisement headed 'Buy Two, Get one Free!', including details of my book: Competition Act 1998.

It is divergent national advertising rules, such as Germany's prohibition of 'three for the price of two' offers, which cause my e-commerce clients many of their on-line selling problems.

Nor are such clients being helped by EU regulation 44/2001 and the Hague II proposals, which may allow consumers to ride roughshod over choice of law and jurisdiction clauses.

Coupled with consumers' new rights to cancel 'distance' contracts without cause, the sanctity of contracts is undermined.

Such EU legislative meddling engenders a culture of irresponsibility.

Do consumers need such nannying? Susan Singleton, Singletons, Pinner, Middlesex