1 Brief Overview of Selective Legal and Regulatory Issues in Electronic Commerce United Nations...
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Transcript of 1 Brief Overview of Selective Legal and Regulatory Issues in Electronic Commerce United Nations...
1
Brief Overview of Selective Legal and Regulatory Issues in
Electronic Commerce
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
Geneva, 14 June 2001Dr. Carlos Moreno
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Legal issues
Legal uncertainties Main commercial legal obstacle Basic legal infrastructure for building trust International solutions Policy considerations
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Legal uncertainties
I - Commercial law issues
writing
document
original
signature
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Commercial law: Evidentiary value of data messages,storage of data messages, validity and formation of contracts, incorporation of general terms and conditions.
Legal uncertainties
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Legal uncertainties
II - Intellectual property issuesWIPO Treaties and Domain Names
III - Consumer protection OECD Guidelines
IV - Authentication and securityElectronic signatures legislation
V - Jurisdiction and applicable lawADR/ODR Mechanisms
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Legal uncertainties
VI - Taxation WTO standstill on customs duties on
e-transmissions.
VII - Internet content regulation EU Commerce Directive (ISPs)
VIII - Computer crime Criminal legislation.
IX - Data privacy OECD Guidelines, Council of Europe Conv. EU Directive, US legislation... .
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Main legal obstacle
Negotiability
Need for physical possession of original document.
Documents are negotiable:– common law (i) statute
(ii) custom
– civil law open system
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How to establish a functional equivalent replicating the “uniqueness”
of the document ?
Contractual solution
(Central Registry)
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Electronic SignaturesFunctions
Data origin authentication
Message integrity
Non-repudiation
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Legislative Approaches
Minimalist: removes legal obstacles to recognition/enforceability of e-signatures.
Digital signature: establish legal framework for PKIs.
Two-tier: standards for the operation of PKIs and broad view of e-signature.
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Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)
Online Settlement
Online Arbitration
Online Mediation
Online Resolution of Consumer Complaints
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Main ADR Forms and Processes
CorporateComplaint
Services
AssistedNegotiation Mediation Arbitration Litigation
FacilitationConciliation
On a Sliding Scale:
Automated, or not
More or less activeguidance by the neutral
Voluntary or mandatoryparticipation
No obligation on theparties to agree, beforeentering ADR, that theoutcome will be binding
Voluntary or mandatorysubmission
Automated or not
Final and binding
Informal to Formal ADR
Source: "Building Trust in the Online Environment: B2C Dispute Resolution". Joint Conferenceof the OECD, HCOPIL, and ICC. The Hague, 11-12 December 2000. OrientationDocument.
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Legal solutions
National legislation;
International legal instruments;
Contractual solutions;
Self-regulation.
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International solutions
I - Model laws/guidelines
UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
UNCITRAL Uniform Rules on Electronic Signatures
EU Directives on Electronic Commerce
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But…...
UNCITRAL Model Law might
not be sufficient to overcome
legal obstacles arising from
mandatory international
conventions.
(Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969).
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International solutions
II - Contractual approaches
European Model EDI Agreement
ECE Model Interchange Agreement
ECE Electronic Commerce Agreement
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Problems encountered by contractual solutions
(i) Obligations arising from mandatory
legislation.
(ii) Rights and obligations of third parties.
(iii) Communication in an open network.
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III - Code of Conduct - Self regulation
International solutions
OECD work
UN/CEFACT Model
IV - International Convention ?
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Policy Considerations
There is a need for a favourable legal environment to accommodate e-commerce;
Governments should not over-regulate; Legislation adopted should be technology-
neutral; Party autonomy should be preserved.