The Concept of Transnational Consumer Law in the Modern World

The article is devoted to the analysis of changes that have taken place in the regulation of cross-border contractual relations with the participation of consumers in connection with the development of information and telecommunication technologies and e-commerce. The author examines the concept of «transnational online contract» and the influence of a «digital element» on the characteristics of contractual relations. Also, the paper provides for the classification of online contracts with due regard to: 1) the subject matter of the online contract; 2) characteristics of the parties involved in the online contractual relationship; 3) the process of concluding and executing the online contract.

Attention is drawn to the fact that new methods of conclusion of contracts has predetermined the emergence of new approaches to qualification of certain aspects of contractual relations between the parties, in particular, it concerns determining the moment of contract conclusion, distinguishing between offer and invitation to offer in online interaction, assessing the validity of online contracts and dispute resolution mechanisms online.

The article analyzes the impact of globalization of trade on consumer markets, mechanisms of regulation of transnational consumer relations in the context of e-commerce. It is noted that globalization of trade has pointed to the need to develop a transnational approach to the regulation of e-commerce, to unify and harmonize relevant legal instruments. The author examines the steps taken in this direction within the framework of UNCITRAL, the EU, by the representatives of American business. It is concluded that the US policy concerning consumer protection is aimed at implementation of economic interests of business, which promotes competition and commercial prosperity in the market, but at the same time puts consumers at risk when concluding online contracts. This approach runs counter to the EU policies that promote implementation of social regulation in order to maximize consumer protection.

The authors consider Lex mercatoria as a separate source of transnational consumer law.

1. Kazachenok S. Yu. Razvitie lex electronica kak predposylka vklyucheniya v arbitrazhnoe soglashenie usloviya ob onlayn-arbitrazhe [Development of lex electronica as a prerequisite for inclusion in the arbitration agreement of a condition on online arbitration]. Sovremennoe pravo [Modern Law], 2014, No. 10, pp. 124—130. (In Russ.)

2. Mazhorina M. V. Mezhdunarodnoe chastnoe pravo v usloviyakh globalizatsii: ot razgosudarstvleniya k fragmentatsii [Private international law in the context of globalization: From Denationalization to fragmentation]. Pravo. Zhurnal vysshey shkoly ekonomiki [Law. Journal of the Higher School of Economics]. 2018. No. 1. (In Russ.)

3. Terenteva L. V. Kontseptsiya suvereniteta gosudarstva v usloviyakh globalizatsionnykh i informatsionnokommunikatsionnykh protsessov [The concept of state sovereignty in the context of globalization and information and communication processes]. Pravo. Zhurnal Vysshey shkoly ekonomiki [Law. [Journal of the Higher School of Economics]. 2017. No. 1. (In Russ.)

4. Terenteva L. V. Ponyatie kiberprostranstva i ocherchivanie ego territorialnykh konturov [The concept of cyberspace and the outline of its territorial contours]. Pravovaya informatika [Legal Informatics]. 2018, No. 4. (In Russ.)

5. Al-Bayati M. Reform of the Iraqi Private International Law on Transnational Online Contracting: Lessons from the EU and the USA : PhD thesis. Prifysgol Bangor University, 2014.

6. Calliess P.-G. Grenzüberschreitende Verbraucherverträge: Rechtssicherheit und Gerechtigkeit auf dem elektronischen Weltmarktplatz. — Mohr Siebeck, 2006.

7. Davidson A. The Law of Electronic Commerce. — Cambridge University Press, 2009.

8. Reed C. Electronic Commerce. Computer Law: The Law and Regulation of Information Technology. C. Reed and J. Angel (eds). 6th ed. Oxford University Press, 2007.

9. Reich N. Transnational Consumer Law-Reality or Fiction? Penn State International Law Abstract. 2009. Vol. 27.

10. Rowland D., Kohl U. and Charleswoth A. Information Technology Law. 4th ed. Routledge, 2012.

11. Svantesson D. Je. B. Private International Law and the Internet. 2nd ed. Wolters Kluwer, 2012.

12. Winn J. K. and Webber M. The Impact of EU Unfair Contract Terms Law on US Business-to-Consumer Internet Merchants. The Business Lawyer. 2006. Vol. 29.