Master's Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject Law - Comparative Legal Systems, Comparative Law, grade: 72 % - Distinction, Bournemouth University (Law Academic Department), language: English, abstract: Approximately eight years ago, an electronic invention called the Internet has initiated a phenomenon of exuberant fascination and economic upturn of individuals and businesses at the same time. The steady increasing amount of online users presents a beneficial medium through which commercial entities can advertise and sell their commodities without mentionable delay. Potential consumers have borderless access to products at competitive prices independent of regional distances. Consequently, it is simply to ask the question "How do people contract over the Internet and are the familiar Common Law principles applicable?" This question is in particular in such an extent controversial and important to resolve, since there is no English court which has dealt with this subject so far. As the traditional contract law has been developed and modified due to new and unfamiliar communication means over centuries, it may be that the existing principles are hardly applicable and insufficient to determine the formation of an electronic contract. Though, it is also imaginable that courts may easily alter the contract law rules to an appropriate extent as they already did with other communication methods. This dissertation is concerned with the demanding topic of formation of contracts in the area of electronic commerce. It tackles legal issues in an environment of various forms of commercial and non-commercial activities using electronic means. As the fields of electronic commerce and practicing business online are constantly increasing all over the globe, legal issues of complex content are steadily challenging traditional law principles, courts, lawyers and legal scholars to develop governing laws and adequate solutions. The dissertation faces and investigates how existi

Master's Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject Law - Comparative Legal Systems, Comparative Law, grade: 72 % - Distinction , Bournemouth University (Law Academic Department), language: English, abstract: Approximately eight years ago, an electronic invention called the Internet has initiated a phenomenon of exuberant fascination and economic upturn of individuals and businesses at the same time. The steady increasing amount of online users presents a beneficial medium through which commercial entities can advertise and sell their commodities without mentionable delay. Potential consumers have borderless access to products at competitive prices independent of regional distances. Consequently, it is simply to ask the question "How do people contract over the Internet and are the familiar Common Law principles applicable?" This question is in particular in such an extent controversial and important to resolve, since there is no English court which has dealt with this subject so far. As the traditional contract law has been developed and modified due to new and unfamiliar communication means over centuries, it may be that the existing principles are hardly applicable and insufficient to determine the formation of an electronic contract. Though, it is also imaginable that courts may easily alter the contract law rules to an appropriate extent as they already did with other communication methods. This dissertation is concerned with the demanding topic of formation of contracts in the area of electronic commerce. It tackles legal issues in an environment of various forms of commercial and non-commercial activities using electronic means. As the fields of electronic commerce and practicing business online are constantly increasing all over the globe, legal issues of complex content are steadily challenging traditional law principles, courts, lawyers and legal scholars to develop governing laws and adequate solutions. The dissertation faces and investigates how existing concepts of contract law may apply to cyberspace in a variety of contractual situations and which kind of issues may occur. Hence, the dissertation endeavours to provide contributions in order to clarify imaginable e-commerce conflicts and discloses possible solutions to dispel existing uncertainties of e-commerce users. In order to determine why certain sectors of electronic commerce comprise a multitude of interesting and challenging aspects for every legal practitioner and every person operating online, it is necessary and expedient to provide a comprehensive overview of the broad field of e-commerce and to what extent the dissertation investigates present issues.

The Law of E-Commerce E-Contracts , E-Business Electronic commerce raises some legal issues, including whether the contract must be in a particular form or authenticated; validity, time and place of communication; cross-offers and battle of forms. This book analyses the legal problems relating to contracts formed on the Internet, including the use of electronic agents, the enforceability of clickwrap agreements, electronic payments, and choice-of-law and jurisdiction issues. These issues are considered from the UK common law point of view and according to the SICG, UNIDROIT Principles, PECL, UNCITRAL Model Law, and the Uniform Commercial Code.

In this new edition, Dr Blount continues his scholarly and very valuable contribution to this emerging area of the law. The significance of a text like this, that synthesises the law and categorises issues that arise in an area vital to our daily lives, cannot be understated. From the foreword to the first editon by In his forward to the book, the Honourable Justice Steven Rares J. This book identifies issues of contract law that are uniquely problematic for electronic contracts, such as whether clicking an oÂeÂ~I agreeoÂeÂ(tm) box is really an acceptance of the terms of a contract, whether acceptance of an offer by email or text message attracts the postal acceptance rule, whether notice of terms can be given by hyperlink, and whether a term of oÂeÂ~fit for purposeoÂeÂ(tm) can be implied at common law for the download of software. In addition to considering the when, where and how of electronic contract formation and the incorporation and vitiation of webpage terms, the book analyses a large number of important common law appellate and superior court decisions to predict the likely law of electronic contracts for all common law jurisdictions, including Australia. Expanded to cover the new developments in this area this second edition includes a new chapter on international conventions and model laws. This book will be of immeasurable assistance to legal practitioners litigating and drafting electronic contracts, as well as to practitioners, academics, and students interested in the legal problems arising from the new information technologies. Features oÂeo Detailed and scholarly coverage of the topic oÂeo Applies a comparative approach oÂeo Author considers over 150 common law electronic contract cases at appellate level Related Titles Seddon and Ellinghaus, Cheshire and FifootoÂeÂ(tm)s Law of Contract, 10th ed 2012 George et al, Social Media and the Law, 2014

This unique one-volume monograph offers commentary on the contract law of twenty key jurisdictions as it applies to online business. The text provides legal counsel and businesspeople with practical information about electronic transactions and contract formation, as well as a description of the country's general legal framework and an overview of the country's scheme of online business regulation. Features in-depth analysis of key practice issues - General principles of contract law - E-commerce legislation in force - Electronic transactions - Effective formation of online contracts (e-contracts) - When and how an offer is made to create an online contract - When and where an online contract is formed - Shrinkwrap and clickwrap issues - Digital signatures - Evidentiary issues - "Self-help" issues - Special provisions to include in online contracts - Legislation governing online contracts In addition to the country coverage, Online Contract Formation includes a wealth of supplementary material: sample agreements and forms, topical contract-related commentary, and source documents. Sample Forms/Agreements, including: - Checklist including tips on how to make your online agreement more enforceable - Sample click-through agreement for purchasing goods over the Internet - Sample clauses for arbitration agreements with respect to both consumer and commercial transactions - Sample terms and conditions for a website - Website development agreement - Links agreement Sample commentary, including: - Glossary of online business terms - Jurisdictional Issues in International E-Commerce Contracts - Effective Formation of Contracts by Electronic Means, and Dispute Resolution in the New E-conomy: Still More Questions than Answers Key sources/documents include: - (US) Electronic Signatures Act (ESIGA) - Uniform Electronic Commerce Act (Canada) - Canada's Uniform Law Conference of Canada Uniform Electronic Commerce Act - UNCITRAL Draft Uniform Rules on Electronic Signatures.

The evolution of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has changed our world tremendously. It has flung the doors of nations wide open and its application to business has made the world a global marketplace. However, in Nigeria, this positive phenomenon brought by the growth of ICT and the emergence of electronic commerce has met with some legal obstacles. One of which is the uncertainty surrounding the validity and enforceability of contracts formed via electronic means.This article analyses the traditional rules of contract formation to determine how they can be effectively applied to electronic contracts. In doing so, it will examine the question of who makes the offer in an electronic contract; where and when an offer is made and accepted; and, how an electronic contract can be authenticated?

Electronic Contracts: Principles from the Common Law identifies issues of contract law that are uniquely problematic for electronic contracts. In this new book, the author discusses the most important appellate decisions from other common law jurisdictions and seeks to provide the reader with an understanding of how these decisions may influence the development of the law here in Australia. The book examines the extent to which the common law applies familiar contract law principles to unfamiliar problems, such as whether sufficient notice of terms can be given by hyperlink. It also examines the extent to which the common law may expand familiar principles to fit unfamiliar problems. This book will be of immeasurable assistance to legal practitioners litigating and drafting electronic contracts, as well as to practitioners, academics, and students interested in the legal problems arising from the new information technologies. Important Features: · Detailed and scholarly coverage of the topic · Applies a comparative approach · Author considers over 150 common law electronic contract cases at appellate level