電子商務交易下契約正義之實現---論網路定型化契約

Fairness and Justice under Electronic Commerce---A Study on Website Standard Form Contract

黃郁婷(Yu-Ting Huang)

指導教授 ： 詹森林

國立臺灣大學/法律學院/法律學研究所/碩士(2008年)

https://doi.org/10.6342/NTU.2008.00651

摘要

網際網路之興起及廣大影響力，遍及全球每個角落，徹底改變人類舊有的生活模式。藉由電子商務交易型態，消費者或企業經營者皆可得到交易成本降低、資訊流通迅速等利益；除了產生各種創新交易態樣外，更能夠體現私法自治、契約自由之法律精神。然伴隨而生地，卻是固有法律體系適用於網路世界時，所衍生各種窒礙難行之困境。
電子商務時代中，企業經營者為求擴大市場版圖，更迫切需要適用定型化契約與不特定交易相對人締結契約，故定型化契約模式即成為締結網路契約時之典型樣態。此外，由於網路定型化契約本身，即涵蓋所有電子交易程序及實質法效力議題，故本文以此為討論重心，有助於建構主管機關對網際時空之應有管制態度。
全文總共分為七章，第一章為緖論，除了闡述研究動機與目的外，更明白提出本文之研究方法，即參考國內外立法例針對網路定型化契約之規範模式，以及各相關實務判決見解；此外，更運用網際網路大量蒐集現實生活中常見之定型化契約條款，以企求增加本文之實用操作性。第二章先行簡介電子商務交易之興起與發展趨勢，並針對電子商務交易環境之特殊性進行基本論述；嗣後更依照不同區辨標準，將網路契約為初步之分門別類。再者，同時檢驗聯合國、歐盟、美國、亞洲國家、我國等國內外法律體系，針對電子商務交易以及網路定型化契約所採行之相異政策立場，以便做為嗣後立論參考基礎。第三章主要在挑戰現行政府就定型化契約之管制態度，除了更強調契約自由及規範效率成本等考量外，亦明確將定型化契約相對人之主觀交易目的，視為消費者與企業經營者之重要區別標準。另就網路定型化契約之管制態度部分，由於網路科技本身尚不足以彌補契約相對人之資訊弱勢，亦無法有效消減市場失靈之風險，故司法者仍應依個案締約過程之不同，進而採取寬嚴適宜之管制密度。
建立網路定型化契約之管制必要性後，本文分別於第四章、第五章部分處理定型化契約程序及實質正當性之學理探討。於契約成立要件部分，本文認為，考量到網路交易之跨國全球性，為提升契約相對人之理解能力，約款擬定人應提供其於實體世界中設有據點或服務站之國家語言版本，始能該當契約明示之基本要求。此外，由於網路契約締結過程中，相對人幾乎享有無限期之審查時間，故沒有再強制規範審閱期間之實效性；但為了確保消費者知的權利，故要求條款擬定人應於定型化契約網頁之明顯處附上「請下載」之按鍵，或是直接將相關契約條款寄送至特定電子信箱。於契約生效要件層次，除了國內外立法例之誠信原則、平等互惠概念，以及法定列舉事由外，更須參酌契約主體之相對交涉力量、標的物性質、義務負擔之合理性、被侵害法益之種類等。再者，為配合電子商務交易環境，司法者更須體察各式新興科技措施之發展成果，以做為綜合判斷之考量因素。
本文第六章則為國內外常見實務條款之分析探討，檢驗對象包括擬制同意條款、未成年人之權益保障與締約自由、帳號管理及個人資料之蒐集使用、約款擬定人單方面保留終止契約或變更契約內容之權利、剝奪相對人之法定權利或加重其負擔、免除約款使用人之損害賠償責任，以及程序面向之合意管轄法院、合意仲裁條款等。於本文立論基礎下，所有網路定型化契約條款皆得依照可資非難性之高低，大致區分成兩種類型：第一種為尚未嚴重背離誠信原則、平等互惠概念者，故若契約條款中已明文採取科技補救措施，或交易過程已存有適當調整機制時，由於已達到衡平雙方權益之最終目的，故不應非難系爭條款效力。第二種類型則屬於不公平情狀嚴重，且無法用科技或其他程序性措施加以彌補者，由於將造成相對人難以回復或無法預期之重大不利益風險，且具備高度可非難性，故應直接論為無效。
第七章結論部分即係綜合各章論述，並希望藉由學理探討及實務條款之重新檢視，能夠提供司法審判實務者、網路定型化契約擬定人，以及網路契約交易相對人另一面向之思考模式，以求創造電子商務時代下，契約正義之嶄新解釋可能性及新型運用機制。

關鍵字

電子商務交易 ； 網路定型化契約 ； 點選同意契約 ； 瀏覽包裝契約 ； 誠信原則 ； 不公正原則 ； 合理期待原則

並列摘要

The evolution of the Internet and its huge impact has been widespread around the world. They have totally changed the existing life style of humankind. By virtue of electronic commerce, both consumers and business operators may obtain some benefits, such as the reduction of their transaction cost and the rapidity of information communication, etc. In addition, various innovative transaction models are also created therein, which better fulfill the principle of freedom of contract than real world. However, the innovation also brings some difficult situations while applying the existing legal rules to the virtual world.
In the age of electronic commerce, in order to expand their market share, business operators take advantage of standard form contract to enter into contract with nonspecific and multiple parties more often. Accordingly, standard form contract becomes the typical transaction model when concluding a website contract. This thesis will focus on the legal issue of website standard form contract, since it contains procedural and substantive aspects regarding electronic transaction, and it may assist the competent authority in restructuring its regulating attitude toward the cyberspace.
This thesis is divided into seven chapters: the first one is the introduction which explains the author’s motive and goal in writing this thesis, and illustrates the research approach and process. To increase the practicability of this thesis, it also collects some common terms of website standard form contract in daily life through the internet. Under the Second Chapter, the thesis introduces the history of the development of electronic commerce at the beginning, and analyzes the uniqueness of electronic commerce environment. Furthermore, the thesis also conducts the comparative studies which compare the legal system concerning the electronic commerce and website standard form contract in United Nations, European Union, United States and Asian countries with the one in Taiwan. In the Third Chapter, this thesis challenges the current attitude of the competent authority toward the regulation of standard form contract. In addition to putting more emphasis on the significance of freedom of contract and the efficiency of regulation, this thesis also clearly identifies the transaction intention of the parties in the standard form contract as the main criteria in distinguishing between consumers and business operators. As for the website standard form contract, since the internet technology itself can neither redeem the disadvantageous capacity of the consumer in acquiring information, nor effectively remove the risk of market failure, courts shall adopt moderate regulating criteria on a case-by-case basis depending on the differences in the process of contracting..
After confirming the necessity of regulating the website standard form contract, this thesis analyzes the procedural and substantive conscionability of a standard form contract from a theoretical perspective in the Forth and Fifth Chapter. As to the procedural matters, considering the global and transnational character of the internet transaction, users of the standard terms shall provide the version of contract terms with local languages where they have established service stations in order to improve the understanding of consumers. Since e-consumers could review the standard terms in the website for an unlimited period of time, the compulsory reviewing periods may no longer be required. Nevertheless, in order to protect consumers’ right to know, users shall put some hyper links such as “please download this contract terms” in conspicuous place of website page, or directly mail the relevant contract terms to the electronic mail box of the consumer. With regard to the substantive content of the contract, in addition to the principle of good faith, equality, reciprocity, and listed situations in legal wording, this thesis also takes into consideration the negotiating power of the parties, the nature of goods or services, reasonableness of the obligation undertaken by the parties, and the interest being infringed. Moreover, courts shall carefully observe the evolution of ongoing technology, and consider it as a substantial factor while making the final decision.
The Sixth Chapter of this thesis focuses on the analysis regarding common website standard terms in daily virtual life. These include presumed acceptance of terms, protection of children, Internet account management, use of consumers’ private information, right of terms users to unilaterally modify or terminate the contract terms, infringement of consumers’ legal right, immunity of terms users’ liability, forum selection clause, and arbitration agreement. In sum, all of the website standard terms may be divided into two categories by their gravity of criticism. One category is that the terms do not materially violate the principle of good faith, equality and reciprocity, and the unconscionability of terms could be resolved by technology or other proper strategies. In such circumstances, this thesis acknowledges the effectiveness of contract terms while certain conditions are fulfilled. The other one is that the unconscionability to the consumers is critical, and it could not be resolved by any measures. Therefore, this thesis concludes such terms void without further consideration.
The Seventh Chapter concludes the arguments and analysis in each capter. By reviewing relevant academic and practical application, the thesis anticipates that it may provide judges, standard terms users, and consumers with some reflections from different perspective, so as to pursue brand new fairness and justice in the era of electronic commerce.

並列關鍵字

Electronic Commerce ； Website Standard Form Contract ； Click-wrap contract ； Browse-wrap contract ； Unfairness ； The Doctrine of Unconscionability ； The Doctrine of Reasonable Expectation

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