REVISTA DA FACULDADE DE DIREITO MILTON CAMPOS 2004

Transcrição

1 REVISTA DA FACULDADE DE DIREITO MILTON CAMPOS 2004 FDMC 2004.pmd 1

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3 Lucia Massara Coordenadora REVISTA DA FACULDADE DE DIREITO MILTON CAMPOS Volume 11 Belo Horizonte 2004 FDMC 2004.pmd 3

4 Revista da Faculdade de Direito Milton Campos v. 11 (2004). Belo Horizonte: Del Rey, Anual. Revista da Faculdade de Direito Milton Campos Descrição baseada em: ano 1, n. 1, ISSN Direito Periódicos Faculdade de Direito Milton Campos. CDU 34 CDU 340 Toda correspondência deverá ser endereçada à: REVISTA DA FACULDADE DE DIREITO MILTON CAMPOS Caixa Postal 3268 Belo Horizonte MG Copyright 2004 by: REVISTA DA FACULDADE DE DIREITO MILTON CAMPOS Produção Editorial: EDITORA MANDAMENTOS Rua Espírito Santo, 1025 Loja H Centro Belo Horizonte MG CEP Tel.: (31) editora@mandamentos.com.br Nenhuma parte deste periódico poderá ser reproduzida, sejam quais forem os meios empregados, sem a permissão, por escrito, da FDMC. Impresso no Brasil Printed in Brazil FDMC 2004.pmd 4

5 Apresentação Na apresentação da última edição de nossa Revista, lembrávamos a capacidade exclusiva do ser humano de expressar-se e de transformar sua expressão em registro, de modo a garantir sua permanência e seu desfrute, pelos pares e por gerações vindouras. Foi assim - pelo registro de descobertas, inovações e pensamentos originais - que construímos o grande acervo da cultura humana. Esta nova edição da Revista da Faculdade de Direito Milton Campos nos remete à reflexão sobre outra característica do ser humano, qual seja, a da perseverança, a de saber dar continuidade a seus projetos, evitando que fiquem pelo caminho, inconclusos. O conjunto de artigos aqui reunidos, de colaboradores da própria FDMC ou convidados, demonstra que o pensamento acadêmico também deve pautar-se por essa característica, perseverando na análise, no debate de idéias e na certeza de que ele, pensamento, não pode se repetir, mas não deve perder o sentido de continuidade. Continuidade que, como dissemos, esta Revista vem ostentando de modo fecundo, graças à liderança e à perseverança do Professor da Pós-Graduação Milton Campos, professor Carlos Alberto Rorhmann, a quem, por justiça, rendemos homenagens e registramos os agradecimentos. Lucia Massara Diretora da FDMC e da Revista FDMC 2004.pmd 5

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7 REVISTA DA FACULDADE DE DIREITO MILTON CAMPOS FUNDADA EM JUNHO DE 1993 Caixa Postal 3268 Cep Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais Brasil DIREÇÃO DA REVISTA Professora Lucia Massara DIRETORA Professor Adauto Junqueira Rebouças SECRETÁRIO COMISSÃO EDITORIAL Adauto Junqueira Rebouças Humberto Theodoro Júnior Lucia Massara Miriam de Abreu Machado Campos Misabel de Abreu Machado Derzi Osmar Brina Corrêa Lima Ricardo Arnaldo Malheiros Fiúza Sálvio de Figueiredo Teixeira Sidney F. Safe Silveira Sônia Diniz Viana Sylvia Mercado Kierkegaard Wenio Balbino de Castro FDMC 2004.pmd 7

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9 CENTRO EDUCACIONAL DE FORMAÇÃO SUPERIOR Entidade Mantenedora Prof. Sidney Safe F. Silveira Presidente Prof. José Barcelos de Souza Vice Presidente Prof. Osmar Brina Corrêa Lima Diretor Financeiro Prof. Haroldo da Costa Andrade Secretário geral Faculdade de Direito Milton Campos Prof. Lucia Massara Diretora Prof. Marcos Afonso de Souza Vice Diretor e Coordenador Didático - Pedagógico Faculdade de Administração e Ciências Contábeis/ Pós - Graduação em Direito Empresarial Prof. Wille Duarte Costa Diretor FDMC 2004.pmd 9

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11 REVISTA DA FACULDADE DE DIREITO MILTON CAMPOS FUNDADA EM JUNHO DE 1993 Caixa Postal 3268 CEP Belo Horizonte NORMAS EDITORIAIS 1. A Revista da Faculdade de Direito Milton Campos divulga trabalhos elaborados pela Diretoria da Faculdade, seus professores e artigos de colaboração de terceiros, limitados à área do Direito e ciências afins, que se relacionem com a Ciência do Direito. 2. Serão publicadas, de preferência, colaborações inéditas. 3. Os originais recebidos não serão devolvidos. 4. O recebimento do artigo enviado à Revista não implica a obrigatoriedade de sua publicação. 5. A Direção da Revista poderá reapresentar os originais ao autor para que os adapte às normas editoriais ou esclareça dúvidas. 6. Os originais deverão ser digitados em computador, de preferência usandose o programa Word 2000 da Microsoft e impressos em papel de formato A4, ou não sendo possível, datilografados em espaço simples, em papel branco, de um só lado da folha, de preferência com margens superior 2,4 cm e inferior de 2 cm. 7. Resumo e abstract (em língua inglesa), com até 200 palavras. 7. Junto do trabalho, deve ser enviado de disquete contento a gravação do texto, o qual deverá ser feito em editor Microsoft Word ou compatível. Também poderá o texto ser enviado via para o seguinte endereço: diretoria@mcampos.br, com os esclarecimentos necessários. No texto do deverá constar os títulos do autor do artigo. 8. Para evitar esquecimentos, o artigo deverá conter, após o título, o nome completo do autor, principais títulos e endereço para comunicação ou retorno de correspondência. 9. Os desenhos, gráficos, ilustrações, tabelas etc. (estritamente necessários à clareza do texto), com respectivas legendas, serão apresentados à parte, em papel branco ou vegetal, sem dobras, indicando-se no texto o lugar onde deverão ser incluídos. 10. As referências bibliográficas deverão ser completas e numeradas seguidamente, obedecendo às normas da ABNT, observando-se o seguinte: - Publicações avulsas (livro, folheto, tese, etc.) sobrenome do autor seguido FDMC 2004.pmd 11

12 de vírgula; prenome(s) seguido de ponto; título seguido de ponto; edição e local seguido de dois pontos; nome do editor, seguido de vírgula; ano da publicação seguido de vírgula; se for o caso indicar o volume ou tomo e finalmente a página da fonte. O nome da publicação deve estar em itálico. - Artigo periódico autor(es) seguido de ponto; título do artigo seguido de ponto. Título do periódico em itálico, seguido de ponto. Indicação do volume, mês e ano da publicação, página de referência ou, na bibliografia, indicar página inicial e final. 11. Os originais que não puderem ser entregues pessoalmente deverão ser enviados para a Caixa Postal Belo Horizonte - MG - CEP , Belo Horizonte(MG)-Brasil, aos cuidados da Professora Lucia Massara. As provas tipográficas não serão enviadas para o autor mas, a não ser para correção do texto, se for o caso. Publicado o artigo, o autor receberá, no mínimo, dois exemplares da Revista. FDMC 2004.pmd 12

13 Escreveram neste número: SYLVIA MERCADO KIERKEGAARD Presidente da International Association of Information Technology Lawyers IAITL. Editora-chefe do Journal of International Commercial Law and Technology (JICLT), professora doutora e advogada na Dinamarca MOHAMED CHAWKI Mohamed Chawki (LL.B), (BA), (LL.M), (DU), (FRSA) é Junior Judge Conseil d Etat, Pesquizador Phd em cyberlaw na University of Lyon III, França, membro do Cybercrime Institute in France SHALINI KESAR, Professora PhD, John Moores Liverpool University, Grã-Bretanha FDMC 2004.pmd 13

14 JOÃO CALVÃO DA SILVA Professor catedrático da Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbra; presidente do Instituto de Direito do Bancário, da Bolsa e dos Seguros da Universidade de Coimbra; doutor em Direito FREDERICO VIANA RODRIGUES Mestre em Direito Comercial pela Faculdade de Direito da UFMG; advogado ADALBERTO ANTONIO BATISTA ARCELO Mestre e doutorando em Filosofia do Direito pela Faculdade de Direito da UFMG, sob a orientação da professora doutora Miracy Barbosa de Sousa Gustin. Professor dos cursos de direito da PUC Minas Serro e da Faculdade de Ciências Jurídicas de Diamantina MATHEUS DE MENDONÇA LEITE Bacharel pela FDMC, Mestrando pela Puc-Minas e Professor da Puc-Minas Serro FERNANDO JOSÉ ARMANDO RIBEIRO Doutor em Direito pela UFMG; professor dos cursos de pósgraduação em Direito (mestrado e doutorado) da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC Minas); professor dos cursos de bacharelado e mestrado da Faculdade de Direito Milton Campos (Belo Horizonte); diretor do Departamento de Teoria do Direito do Instituto dos Advogados de Minas Gerais (IAMG) JOSÉ FLÁVIO BONTEMPO RESENDE Mestre Engenharia da Produção, Professor das Faculdades Milton Campos FDMC 2004.pmd 14 13/4/2007, 08:41

15 ELVIRA MARIA ALVAREZ LEITE Mestre em Educação, Professora de Matemática do Curso de Ciências Contábeis, Faculdade de Administração Milton Campos FDMC 2004.pmd 15

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17 Sumário Artigos SYLVIA MERCADO KIERKEGAARD E-Contract Formation: US and EU Perspective MOHAMED CHAWKI Anonymity in cyberspace: Finding the balance between privacy and security SHALINI KESAR Legal Issues Alone Are Not Enough to Manage Computer Fraud Committed by Employees JOÃO CALVÃO DA SILVA Os novos paradigmas do direito concursal FREDERICO VIANA RODRIGUES Os novos paradigmas do direito concursal ADALBERTO ANTONIO BATISTA ARCELO Dogmática jurídica e complexidade: O paradoxo dos direitos humanos como condição de possibilidade para a justificação racional do discurso jurídico MATHEUS DE MENDONÇA LEITE A reconstrução do conteúdo dos direitos fundamentais: Uma FDMC 2004.pmd 17

18 proposta de superação das perspectivas jusnaturalistas e positivistas pelo pragmatismo racional do concretismo constitucional FERNANDO JOSÉ ARMANDO RIBEIRO Desobediência civil: Um instituto democrático JOSÉ FLÁVIO BONTEMPO RESENDE Modelos de indicadores de desempenho empresarial, utilidade, usos e usuários ELVIRA MARIA ALVAREZ LEITE A aprendizagem da matemática e os princípios da nova escola FDMC 2004.pmd 18

19 REVISTA DA FACULDADE DE DIREITO MILTON CAMPOS N. 11 DE KIERKEGAARD, Sylvia M. E-Contract Formation US and EU perspective The US and the EU offer contrasting approaches to contract formation in Cyberspace. Two foci can be identified with EU lawconsumer protection and liberalisation of the market- while the American approach is associated with self-regulation and economic rationale. The author examines the legislation of the European Union and the United States on electronic contracting and makes a comparative analysis of the two regulatory approaches. 2 CHAWKI, Mohammed Anonymity in cyberspace Anonymity in cyberspace is a major concern for the global community. The introduction, growth and utilisation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been accompanied by an increase in criminal activities. With respect to cyberspace, identities are easily cloaked in anonymity. Once a message sender s identity is anonymous, cyberspace provides the means to perpetrate wide spread criminal activity to the masses, with little chance of apprehension. On the other hand, anonymity in cyberspace allows whistle-blowers and political activists to express opinions critical of employers and the government enables entrepreneurs to acquire and share technical information without alerting their competitors, and permits individuals to express their views online without fear of 19 FDMC 2004.pmd 19

20 reprisals and public hostility. On this basis, the question of whether a State or a government can create a narrowly-tailored restriction on cyberspace anonymity without violating the privacy remains unresolved. Accordingly, this paper seeks to address and analyse the following issues. Firstly, it starts by presenting the concept and several types of anonymity. Secondly, it focuses on the Internet and how it can be achieved, and why it is an essential tool for free speech. The paper will also describe proposals to outlaw anonymity over the Internet, since it has often been tied to criminal activity by law enforcement bodies. Finally, the paper concludes that total anonymity may be possible through the use of privacy-enhancing technologies, such as those offered by Anonymizer.com and Freenet. Moreover, educated legislators can criminalize most true anonymity in cyberspace and still pass security. Keywords: Anonymity- Cybercrime Cyberspace Privacy 3 KESAR, Shalini Legal issues are not enough to manage computer fraud The advent of IT has created unprecedented opportunities for the occurrence of computer crime like fraud, committed by employees in particular. This paper focuses upon computer fraud committed by employees because reports claim that it is the employees who pose one of the greatest threats to organisations today. Further it argues that solely relying only on current legalisation and other sophisticated measures alone are inadequate for the managing the occurrence of computer fraud committed by employees. Therefore the onus of detecting and managing computer fraud committed by employee(s) lies within the organisations itself. In conducting the argument it discusses the shortcoming of the current legalisation and the challenges it can pose to deal with such acts. 20 FDMC 2004.pmd 20

21 Consequently the main contribution of this paper is to enhance the awareness about management of computer fraud committed by employees. Keywords: Computer fraud, Security, Employees and Legalisations. 4 RAGUENEAU, Alan Copyright Licensing and Conflict of Laws on the Internet ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to focus on the enforcement of traditional international private law concepts on the Internet in connection with one particular type of contract that is a consumer copyright license agreement. This paper is solely concerned with the law applicable to contractual obligations in transactions involving the transmission to a consumer of copyrighted works or the exclusive rights in such works over the Internet. This paper is not intended to provide a comprehensive legal study regarding the international private law concepts on the Internet. Keywords: Copyright. Conflict of laws. Cyber law. License agreements. 4 SILVA, João Calvão da e Os novos paradigmas do direito RODRIGUES, Frederico Viana concursal Enquanto a instituição da reorganização societária é nova no direito positivo brasileiro, Portugal vem implementando sua reorganização societária há três décadas. Apesar das diferenças históricas, sociais, econômicas e culturais entre Brasil e Portugal, refletidas em seus respectivos ordenamentos jurídicos, a experiência portuguesa é uma fonte útil tanto para estudos acadêmicos quanto como inspiração para reflexões relativas à instituição brasileira emergente. Assim, apresenta- 21 FDMC 2004.pmd 21

22 mos uma abordagem na reorganização societária no Direito Positivo Português, analisando os paradigmas que estão por trás da elaboração legislativa. 6 SILVA, Nanci de Melo Responsabilidade e culpa A teoria da responsabilidade civil foi elaborada com fundamentação na culpa - a teoria subjetiva da responsabilidade -. A obrigação de indenizar deveria ser baseada na culpa do autor. A evolução do pensamento jurídico, no entanto, desdobrou-se no sentido de que o interesse da coletividade deve estar acima dos interesses individuais, mas, sem sacrifício destes interesses e sem implicar no afastamento da noção de culpa. A responsabilidade objetiva, também chamada socialização do risco ou responsabilidade sem culpa (SILVA, 1969) conquistou a aceitação da doutrina, penetrou no princípio constitucional (art. 5º, incisos V e X) e manifesta-se, por exemplo, na legislação relativa ao acidente do trabalho e no Código de Proteção ao Consumidor - Lei 8.078/90. 8 ARCELO, Adalberto Dogmática jurídica e complexidade Neste artigo busca-se sustentar que a dogmática jurídica contemporânea, marcada pela via da complexidade, é caracterizada pela ambivalência da comunicação normativa. Através da crítica foucaultiana à função normalizadora das discursividades hegemônicas, propõe-se a justificação racional do discurso jurídico pela eleição de determinada concepção de pragmática, afirmando-se os direitos humanos como estrutura da argumentação jurídica no Estado Democrático de Direito Brasileiro pós FDMC 2004.pmd 22

23 E-CONTRACT FORMATION: US AND EU PERSPECTIVE 9 MENDONÇA, Matheus A reconstrução do conteúdo dos direitos fundamentais O presente trabalho pretende abordar as diferentes justificações que as teorias jurídicas erigiram para o conteúdo dos direitos fundamentais a partir do paradigma da modernidade, demonstrando as insuficiências das construções propostas até aqui e procurando superar as falhas cometidas no passado pela elucidação de um novo método de construção do conteúdo dos direitos fundamentais que supere as deficiências dos conceitos já propostos. 23 FDMC 2004.pmd 23

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25 E-CONTRACT FORMATION: US AND EU PERSPECTIVE 1 E-CONTRACT FORMATION: US AND EU PERSPECTIVE SYLVIA MERCADO KIERKEGAARD Sumário 1. Introduction. 2. Overview of US and EU Legislation on E Commerce. 3. Legality of online contracts. 4. Prior Information. 5. Formation of Contract. 6. Offers and Invitation to Offer. 7. Receipt. 8. Treatment of Mistakes and Error. 9. Contract Formation through Electronic Agents. 10. Electronic Signature. 11. Conclusion. Abstract The US and the EU offer contrasting approaches to contract formation in Cyberspace. Two foci can be identified with EU lawconsumer protection and liberalisation of the market- while the American approach is associated with self-regulation and economic rationale. The author examines the legislation of the European Union and the United States on electronic contracting and makes a comparative analysis of the two regulatory approaches. Resumo Os Estados Unidos e a União Européia oferecem tratamentos diferentes no que se refere à formação de contratos no espaço virtual. Dois focos podem ser identificados com o direito protetivo do con- REV. FAC. DIR. MILTON CAMPOS BELO HORIZONTE N. 11 P FDMC 2004.pmd 25

26 SYLVIA MERCADO KIERKEGAARD sumidor da união européia e a liberalização do mercado enquanto o tratamento americano é associado à auto-regulamentação e às razões econômicas. A autora examina a legislação da União Européia e dos Estados Unidos para fazer uma análise comparativa dos dois tratamentos regulatórios. 1 INTRODUCTION The Internet has dramatically boosted the number of potential buyers for American goods. According to Europe Online, there are over 190 million Internet users in Europe. 1 The US has built a substantial lead over Europe with the EU generally lagging behind the United States in e-commerce initiatives and Internet use in the late 1990s. But based on today s growth rate, Europe is quickly catching up. The US share of the world Information Communication Technology (ICT) market is 32.1% in 2004 with Europe (including Eastern Europe) taking 30.1%. 2 Forrester Research predicts that online sales in Western Europe, including business-to-business transactions, will reach $2.5tn by Although the Internet is more or less an American affair, the European Union is wielding incredible influence to regulate the Internet. With the addition of 10 new Member States, the European Union wants to shape global e-commerce law and to remove obstacles to the functioning of the European internal market through a coherent legal and regulatory framework based on the application of key internal market principles and human rights protection, in contrast with the American approach which is associated with purely economic rationale. US businesses who want to increase revenue from European customers should be aware of the strict European Union (EU) regulations governing Internet sales. In the EU, laws are designed to give consumer protection, allowing consumers to sue foreign businesses in the consumer s domicile or habitual residence news.zdnet.co.uk/business/ 26 FDMC 2004.pmd 26

27 E-CONTRACT FORMATION: US AND EU PERSPECTIVE The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the regulatory approach taken by the European Union on formation of electronic contracts and to juxtapose it with the US regulations. This paper will focus on key themes of direct relevance to electronic contracting. 2 OVERVIEW OF US AND EU LEGISLATION ON E COMMERCE The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) has adopted two uniform acts to bring legal certainty to electronic transactions. The two uniform acts are the Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act (UCITA) and the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (UETA). 4 A coherent regulatory framework for electronic commerce has been created at European level. They include the following Directives: E-Commerce, Contracts Negotiated at a Distance, Unfair Contract Terms and the E-Signatures. In addition, a number of horizontal directives (privacy and intellectual property rights in cyberspace) and sectorial directives (on consumer credit, travel packages and timeshare) have been adopted. 3 LEGALITY OF ONLINE CONTRACTS Directive 2000/31/EC (Ecommerce Directive) is designed to facilitate the provision of electronic commerce services. Articles 9, 10 and 11 deal with electronic contracts in B2C transactions. The Directive adopts a minimalist approach requiring the service provider to set out all the necessary steps so that consumers can have no doubt as to the point at which they are committed to the contract. Electronic contracts are just as legal and enforceable as traditional paper signed in ink in the European Union. Article 9 requires Member States to ensure that electronic contracts are rendered valid and to remove any prohibition or restriction on the use of electronic contracts, with certain permitted exceptions. Derogations include the following: FDMC 2004.pmd 27

28 SYLVIA MERCADO KIERKEGAARD contracts that create or transfer real estate property rights, except rental rights contracts requiring, in order to be valid, to be registered with public authority contracts of suretyship Contracts falling within the scope of the law of succession and family law The UETA (1999) recognizes the validity of electronic contracts. Section 7(b) states that a contract may not be denied legal effect or enforceability solely because an electronic record was used in its formation. The scope of the exemption is wider than the E-Commerce Directive as the derogations not only cover contracts governing the execution of wills, codicils or testamentary trusts, but any transaction included in the UCC 5 other than Sec.1-107, and Art. 2A, the UCIT and other laws identified by State. 4 PRIOR INFORMATION The Directive stipulates extensive prior information requirements to enter a contract. This requirement is applicable to consumer and B2B transaction, but the default rule means that B2B transactions can derogate from this obligation. The Service Provider must provide information on a) the different technical steps that a consumer must follow to conclude a contract b) whether the contract will be filed by the service provider and whether it will be accessible c) the technical means for identifying and correcting input errors prior to the placing of the order and d) the languages offered for the conclusion of the contract. Contracts and general conditions must be made available in a way that would allow the consumer to store and reproduce them. The contractual terms should appear on the screen before making any purchase. Council Directive 93/13/EEC provides a comprehensive set of rules and an Annex containing an illustrative list of 17 contact terms 5 Uniform Commercial Code 28 FDMC 2004.pmd 28

29 E-CONTRACT FORMATION: US AND EU PERSPECTIVE which may be regarded as unfair. The terms have the effect of altering the position which would exist under the ordinary rules of contract as they would either protect the supplier from certain sorts of claim in law which the consumer might otherwise make, or give rights against the consumer that the supplier would not otherwise enjoy. The issue of unfair terms is addressed in Section 111 of UCITA. The provision does not provide a definition or an indicative list of what terms may be regarded as unconscionable in order to allow the court to rule directly on the unconscionability of the contract or the particular term. The section adopts the unconscionability doctrine of Uniform Commercial Code The basic test is whether, in light of the general commercial background and need of the particular trade or case, the terms involved are one-sided. 6 Under the Ecommerce Directive, the Service Provider must also provide other information requirements established in the Community Law, such as those contained in the Distance Selling Directives, and sectorial Directives such as insurance, travel packages, etc. The Distance Contracts Directive (Directive 2002/65/EC) and the Distance Marketing of Consumer Financial Services (Directive 97/7/EC) provide the rule on when and what information should be provided to the consumer before a contract is concluded. 7 Contract law requires an element of intent, but the E-Commerce Directive does not make any reference to the intention to sign in relation to ecommerce transaction. Instead, it imposes an information obligation, 6 Par. 2 of the Comments on Sec This package of information should include the following: identity, trade registrar, contact details, relevant supervisory authority, arrangement for payments and service, any additional specific cost to the consumer, minimum duration of the contract, termination of the contract, contractual terms and conditions Member State s laws, limitation of the period for which the information provided remains, valid, rights of withdrawal and the practical applications foe exercising the right of withdrawal, out of court complaint and redress procedure matters and which languages the supplier with the agreement of the consumer undertakes to communicate during the duration of this distance contract. For further discussions on online ADR in the EU, see Kierkegaard, Sylvia (2004) Online Alternative Dispute Resolution, EU Electronic Commerce Law, DJØF Publishing. Denmark. 29 FDMC 2004.pmd 29

30 SYLVIA MERCADO KIERKEGAARD in order to help consumers reach intent. By following the technical steps to follow to conclude a contract, the consumer indicates his intent to enter into a contract. In contrast, the UETA is more explicit and focuses on the party s intention to be bound and to sign. Section 7(d) states, If a law requires a signature, an electronic signature satisfies the law. Electronic signature is defined as an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record. 8 Consumer protection requires that information be provided concerning the procedures in the formation of contract. Section 8 of the UETA does not provide a checklist of required information prior to the formation of contracts. Instead, it leaves the determination of what information is required by reference to other laws. Where notice must be given as part of contractual obligation, the Act simply sets forth the standards to be applied in determining whether electronic record is the equivalent of the provision of information in writing. It requires that electronic records be retainable by a person whenever the law requires information to be delivered in writing. Art.9 (3) of the Ecommerce Directive is more specific and requires that contract terms and general conditions must be made available in a way that allows the consumer to store and reproduce them. Such provision clearly calls into question the form of clip-wrap agreement in which the agreement is displayed in a separate window from which it cannot be downloaded or printed. Under the Ecommerce Directive, contracts concluded exclusively by or by equivalent individual communications are exempted from the prior information requirements of Art.9. The rationale is that necessary information can be asked easily in case of individual communications. The scope of application of the information requirement of UETA is wider as compared to the Ecommerce Directive as it covers all types of contracts whether B2C or B2B which use different methods of electronic communications. 8 Section 2(8) 30 FDMC 2004.pmd 30

31 E-CONTRACT FORMATION: US AND EU PERSPECTIVE Article 20 of the Directive requires the Member States to determine the sanctions applicable to the infringements of national provisions adopted pursuant to the Directive, without clarifying the legal effects when the Information Service Provider failed to provide the required information. Similarly, the UETA defers to other laws in determining the consequences of the seller s failure to satisfy the information requirements. 5 FORMATION OF CONTRACT In most legal systems, a contract is formed through the exchange of offers and acceptance. However, the Ecommerce Directive introduces a third step in contract formation- confirmation. According to Article 11, In cases where the recipient of the service places his order through technological means, the service provider has to acknowledge the receipt of the recipients order without undue delay and by electronic means. Thus, a contract is concluded, in B2C transactions, only when the recipient of the service has received from the service provider, by electronic means, an acknowledgement of the receipt of the recipient s acceptance Article 11 deals only in situations where the Service provider has made an offer, and not in situations where the customer is the one who makes the offer. The rationale for requiring an acknowledgement of the receipt of the acceptance is to provide protection from accidental contracts. The idea is to give the consumer a second chance to check whether he/ she might have ordered a product which he/she did not want. It would also give the seller the opportunity to establish whether there were sufficient stocks available and whether the product has been offered at the right price. 9 However, the requirement of confirmation seems to duplicate the functions provided in Art.10 (1) of the Directive which requires that service providers make available to customers the identification and technical means to handle error. As far as the process is concerned, there are no mandatory requirements concerning the 9 See Kodak case at: 31 FDMC 2004.pmd 31