DECLARATIONS OF WILL IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT AND WRAP CONTRACTS
Keywords:
declaration of will, terms of service (ToS), Internet Service Provider (ISP), online agreements, clickwrap / browsewrap agreements
Abstract
Declarations of will made in a digital environment are undeniably different from the ones done in a „physical” world and some persons might not be aware of their significance.
Many people join various Internet Service Provider's (ISP) sites daily. To do that, they usually have to, agree to terms of service (ToS) that govern said site. These declarations of will are sometimes direct: by clicking 'I agree', a person knows that he/she has agreed to ToS, whether he/she has read them or not. What is more important, a person is aware (or should be) that he/she has entered into some sort of an agreement with an ISP – a clickwrap agreement. However, on some Web pages, a person is consenting to ISP’s ToS simply by staying on and browsing the page – browsewrap agreements. These declarations are not direct and a person is often unaware that he/she has entered into an agreement with ISP.
Furthermore, ToS often change and an ISP will sometimes not inform users about it. In those instances, users will not be aware of the changes to ToS and that simply by continuing to use ISP’s services, they are agreeing to them.
These are some of examples of will being declared in a digital environment, without the person declaring it being aware of what he/she has done. It seems that, for some reason, people take what happens online less seriously than what happens in a “physical” world. This paper will try to show that this is a serious mistake in a digital environment.
Key words: declaration of will, terms of service (ToS), Internet Service Provider (ISP), online agreements, clickwrap / browsewrap agreements
References
Literature:
Books:
Gavella, N. (2017) Privatno pravo, Narodne novine, Zagreb
Klarić, P., Vedriš, M. (2014). Građansko pravo, Narodne novine, Zagreb
Smits J. M. (2017) Contract law, A comparative introduction, 2nd edition, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK – Northampton, MA, USA
Ćesić, Z. (2021). Komentar Zakona o obveznim odnosima, Posebni dio, Knjiga druga, Libertin naklada, Rijeka
Book chapters:
Kim, N. S. (2013). The Duty to Draft Reasonably and Online Contracts. U L. A. DiMatteo, Q. Zhou, S. Saintier, K. Rowley (ed.), (str. 181-200) Commercial Contract Law, Cambridge University Press
Kim, N. S. (2016). Wrap Contracting and the Online Environment: Causes and Cures. (str. 11-34). U Research Handbook on Electronic Commerce Law, Research Handbooks in Information Law, John A. Rothchild (B)
Articles:
Garcia, M. (2013). Browsewrap: A Unique Solution to the Slippery Slope of the Clickwrap Conundrum, Campbell Law Review 36, no. 1. 31-74
Davis, N. J. (2007). Presumed Assent: The Judicial Acceptance of Clickwrap, Berkeley Technology Law Journal 22, no. 1. 577-598
Kamantauskas, P. (2015). Formation of Click-Wrap and Browse-Wrap Contracts, Teises Apzvalga Law Review 12. 51-88
Kim, N. S. (2007). Clicking and Cringing, Oregon Law Review 86, no. 3. 797-864
Kim, N. S. (2011), Contract’s Adaptation and the Online Bargin, University of Cincinnaty Law Review, 79, no. 4. 1327-1370
Kim, N. S. (2014). The Wrap Contract Morass, Southwestern Law Review, 44 no. 2. 309-326
Kim, N. S. (2016). Online Contracting, Business Lawyer 72, no. 1 (A). 243-253
Kunz, C. L., Ottaviani J. E., Ziff E. D., Moringiello, J. M. (2003). Browse-Wrap Agreements: Validity of Implied Assent in Electronic Form Agreements, Business Lawyer (ABA) 59, no. 1. 279-312
Matić, T. (2008). Formulary Contracts in the Electronic Form, Zbornik Pravnog Fakulteta u Zagrebu 58, no. 3. 779-804
Macdonald, E. (2011). When is a Contract Formed by the Browse-Wrap Process, International Journal of Law and Information Technology 19, no. 4. 285-305
Petrić, S. (2002). O nepravičnim klauzulama općih uvjeta ugovora u pravo Europske unije, Zbornik radova Pravnog fakulteta u Splitu, 39, no. 1-2. 59-82
Scranton, D. F. (2002). Clickwrap or Browsewrap: Enforceable Website Agreements, Banking Law Journal 119, no. 3. 290-299
Tontodonato, J. A. (2000). Deep-Linking: Sure You Can Exploit My Trademark, Weaken Its Strength, and Make Yourself Money While Doing It, Thomas Jefferson Law Review 22, no. 2. 201-218
Founds, G. L. (1999). Shrinkwrap and Clickwrap Agreements: 2B or Not 2B, Federal
Communications Law Journal 52, no. 1. 99-124
Cicirelli, L. (2016). Onlije Shopping: Buy One Lose Legal Ritghts for Free, Seton Hall Law Review 46, no. 3. 991-1020
Condon Jr. W.J. (2003). Electronic Assent to Online Contracts: Do Courts Consistently Enforce Clickwrap Agreements, Regent University Law Review 16, no. 2. 433-458
Legislation:
DIRECTIVE 2009/136/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 November 2009, amending Directive 2002/22/EC on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services, Directive 2002/58/EC concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 o cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:337:0011:0036:en:PDF
Inheritance Act, National gazette of the Republic of Croatia, 48/03, 163/03, 35/05, 127/13, 33/15, 14/19
Obligations Act, National gazette of the Republic of Croatia, 35/05, 41/08, 125/11, 78/15, 29/18
Web sources:
Brehm, A. S., Lee, C. D. (2015). Click Here to Accept the Terms of Service,
Communications Lawyer 31, no. 1. (str. 4-7) Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://images-insite.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/dunia_buku/koleksi-buku-lainnya/communications-lawyer-vol-31-no-1-pdfdrivecom-56661583873353.pdf
EULA versus Terms and Conditions. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://www.privacypolicies.com/blog/eula-vs-terms-conditions/
Kim, N. S. (2010). Wrap Contracts and Privacy, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Press Technical Report SS-10-05. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1580111&download=yes
The differences between a EULA, TOS and SLA. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://odinlaw.com/the-differences-between-a-eula-tos-and-sla/
Ultimate Guide to EU Cookie Laws. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://www.privacypolicies.com/blog/eu-cookie-law/
Case law:
AvePoint, Inc. v, Power Tools, Inc. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/virginia/vawdce/7:2013cv00035/88318/62/0.pdf?ts=1411607234
Groff v. America Online, Inc. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://casetext.com/case/groff-v-america-online-inc
El Majdoub vs. CarsOnTheWeb.Deutschland GmbH. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:62014CJ0322&from=EN
Long v. Provide Commerce, Inc. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1729412.html
Pollstar v. Gigmania, Ltd. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1097855858429084707&q=170+F.Supp.2d+974&hl=en&as_sdt=2002
ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenberg. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=11811009805458694240
Sgouros v. TransUnion Corp. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1730191.html
Specht v. Netscape Communications Corp. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://cyber.harvard.edu/stjohns/Specht_v_Netscape.pdf
Step-Saver Data Sys., Inc. v. Wyse Tech. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://cyber.harvard.edu/metaschool/fisher/contract/cases/step.htm
Hoffman v. Supplements Togo Management, L.L.C. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-unpublished/2011/a5022-09-opn.html
Hubbert v. Dell Corp. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=16411101656811779909&q=359+Ill.App.3d+976&hl=en&as_sdt=2002
Books:
Gavella, N. (2017) Privatno pravo, Narodne novine, Zagreb
Klarić, P., Vedriš, M. (2014). Građansko pravo, Narodne novine, Zagreb
Smits J. M. (2017) Contract law, A comparative introduction, 2nd edition, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK – Northampton, MA, USA
Ćesić, Z. (2021). Komentar Zakona o obveznim odnosima, Posebni dio, Knjiga druga, Libertin naklada, Rijeka
Book chapters:
Kim, N. S. (2013). The Duty to Draft Reasonably and Online Contracts. U L. A. DiMatteo, Q. Zhou, S. Saintier, K. Rowley (ed.), (str. 181-200) Commercial Contract Law, Cambridge University Press
Kim, N. S. (2016). Wrap Contracting and the Online Environment: Causes and Cures. (str. 11-34). U Research Handbook on Electronic Commerce Law, Research Handbooks in Information Law, John A. Rothchild (B)
Articles:
Garcia, M. (2013). Browsewrap: A Unique Solution to the Slippery Slope of the Clickwrap Conundrum, Campbell Law Review 36, no. 1. 31-74
Davis, N. J. (2007). Presumed Assent: The Judicial Acceptance of Clickwrap, Berkeley Technology Law Journal 22, no. 1. 577-598
Kamantauskas, P. (2015). Formation of Click-Wrap and Browse-Wrap Contracts, Teises Apzvalga Law Review 12. 51-88
Kim, N. S. (2007). Clicking and Cringing, Oregon Law Review 86, no. 3. 797-864
Kim, N. S. (2011), Contract’s Adaptation and the Online Bargin, University of Cincinnaty Law Review, 79, no. 4. 1327-1370
Kim, N. S. (2014). The Wrap Contract Morass, Southwestern Law Review, 44 no. 2. 309-326
Kim, N. S. (2016). Online Contracting, Business Lawyer 72, no. 1 (A). 243-253
Kunz, C. L., Ottaviani J. E., Ziff E. D., Moringiello, J. M. (2003). Browse-Wrap Agreements: Validity of Implied Assent in Electronic Form Agreements, Business Lawyer (ABA) 59, no. 1. 279-312
Matić, T. (2008). Formulary Contracts in the Electronic Form, Zbornik Pravnog Fakulteta u Zagrebu 58, no. 3. 779-804
Macdonald, E. (2011). When is a Contract Formed by the Browse-Wrap Process, International Journal of Law and Information Technology 19, no. 4. 285-305
Petrić, S. (2002). O nepravičnim klauzulama općih uvjeta ugovora u pravo Europske unije, Zbornik radova Pravnog fakulteta u Splitu, 39, no. 1-2. 59-82
Scranton, D. F. (2002). Clickwrap or Browsewrap: Enforceable Website Agreements, Banking Law Journal 119, no. 3. 290-299
Tontodonato, J. A. (2000). Deep-Linking: Sure You Can Exploit My Trademark, Weaken Its Strength, and Make Yourself Money While Doing It, Thomas Jefferson Law Review 22, no. 2. 201-218
Founds, G. L. (1999). Shrinkwrap and Clickwrap Agreements: 2B or Not 2B, Federal
Communications Law Journal 52, no. 1. 99-124
Cicirelli, L. (2016). Onlije Shopping: Buy One Lose Legal Ritghts for Free, Seton Hall Law Review 46, no. 3. 991-1020
Condon Jr. W.J. (2003). Electronic Assent to Online Contracts: Do Courts Consistently Enforce Clickwrap Agreements, Regent University Law Review 16, no. 2. 433-458
Legislation:
DIRECTIVE 2009/136/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 November 2009, amending Directive 2002/22/EC on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services, Directive 2002/58/EC concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 o cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:337:0011:0036:en:PDF
Inheritance Act, National gazette of the Republic of Croatia, 48/03, 163/03, 35/05, 127/13, 33/15, 14/19
Obligations Act, National gazette of the Republic of Croatia, 35/05, 41/08, 125/11, 78/15, 29/18
Web sources:
Brehm, A. S., Lee, C. D. (2015). Click Here to Accept the Terms of Service,
Communications Lawyer 31, no. 1. (str. 4-7) Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://images-insite.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/dunia_buku/koleksi-buku-lainnya/communications-lawyer-vol-31-no-1-pdfdrivecom-56661583873353.pdf
EULA versus Terms and Conditions. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://www.privacypolicies.com/blog/eula-vs-terms-conditions/
Kim, N. S. (2010). Wrap Contracts and Privacy, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Press Technical Report SS-10-05. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1580111&download=yes
The differences between a EULA, TOS and SLA. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://odinlaw.com/the-differences-between-a-eula-tos-and-sla/
Ultimate Guide to EU Cookie Laws. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://www.privacypolicies.com/blog/eu-cookie-law/
Case law:
AvePoint, Inc. v, Power Tools, Inc. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/virginia/vawdce/7:2013cv00035/88318/62/0.pdf?ts=1411607234
Groff v. America Online, Inc. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://casetext.com/case/groff-v-america-online-inc
El Majdoub vs. CarsOnTheWeb.Deutschland GmbH. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:62014CJ0322&from=EN
Long v. Provide Commerce, Inc. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1729412.html
Pollstar v. Gigmania, Ltd. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1097855858429084707&q=170+F.Supp.2d+974&hl=en&as_sdt=2002
ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenberg. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=11811009805458694240
Sgouros v. TransUnion Corp. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1730191.html
Specht v. Netscape Communications Corp. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://cyber.harvard.edu/stjohns/Specht_v_Netscape.pdf
Step-Saver Data Sys., Inc. v. Wyse Tech. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://cyber.harvard.edu/metaschool/fisher/contract/cases/step.htm
Hoffman v. Supplements Togo Management, L.L.C. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-unpublished/2011/a5022-09-opn.html
Hubbert v. Dell Corp. Retrieved 28, September, 2021 from https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=16411101656811779909&q=359+Ill.App.3d+976&hl=en&as_sdt=2002
Published
2022/01/26
Section
Review Paper