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Wanted: a Bigger Stick. On Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts with Online Service Providers

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  • Marco Loos

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Joasia Luzak

    (University of Amsterdam)

Abstract

The Unfair Contract Terms Directive offers consumers protection from pre-formulated imbalanced contract terms. While the standard terms and conditions of online service providers have previously been accused of harming clients of such online services, a comprehensive analysis of the potential unfair character of such terms and conditions in line with the interpretation of the Directive supplied by the CJEU has not yet been provided. This paper aims to fill in this gap in the academic literature. It identifies several types of contractual terms used by international online service providers in their consumer contracts, which are unlikely to pass the Directive’s unfairness test.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Loos & Joasia Luzak, 2016. "Wanted: a Bigger Stick. On Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts with Online Service Providers," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 63-90, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jcopol:v:39:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1007_s10603-015-9303-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10603-015-9303-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael Faure & Hanneke Luth, 2011. "Behavioural Economics in Unfair Contract Terms," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 34(3), pages 337-358, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hans-W. Micklitz & Przemysław Pałka & Yannis Panagis, 2017. "The Empire Strikes Back: Digital Control of Unfair Terms of Online Services," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 367-388, September.
    2. F. Lagioia & A. Jabłonowska & R. Liepina & K. Drazewski, 2022. "AI in Search of Unfairness in Consumer Contracts: The Terms of Service Landscape," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 481-536, September.
    3. Das, Lipsa & Kunja, Sambashiva Rao, 2024. "Why do consumers return products? A qualitative exploration of online product return behaviour of young consumers," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    4. M. Durovic & J. Poon, 2023. "Consumer Vulnerability, Digital Fairness, and the European Rules on Unfair Contract Terms: What Can Be Learnt from the Case Law Against TikTok and Meta?," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 419-443, December.

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