### Question
How is the term initial merchant defined?


### Answer
The term **initial merchant** is defined in *15 U.S.C. § 8402* as the following:

> a person that has obtained a consumer's billing information directly from the consumer through an Internet transaction initiated by the consumer

#### Citation:
  - *15 U.S.C. § 8402*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 110-ONLINE SHOPPER PROTECTION**

