北邮国院大三电商在读,随课程进行整理知识点。仅整理PPT和相关法条中相对重要的知识点,个人认为相对不重要的细小的知识点不列在其中。如有错误请指出。转载请注明出处,祝您学习愉快。
在进入主题之前,先讲了一段关于contract law的validity(有效性)的问题
Special rules for Standard T&Cs
T&C = terms and conditions 条款和条件
Many contracts contain terms and conditions that cannot be individually negotiated each time, not efficient (most b2c contracts)
许多合同包含的条款和条件不能每次单独协商,效率不高(大多数b2c合同)
- e.g. buying seats on a plane or train, automated contracts on websites
- 例如在飞机或火车上购买座位,在网站上自动签订合同
【可以理解为我们日常看到的让你点统一的各种统一的合同】
T&Cs: legal requirements
- Must meet rules
- Terms must be freely negotiated, make correct representations, must be definite, be fair, not for an illegal purpose etc
- 条款必须自由谈判,做出正确的陈述,必须明确,公平,不能用于非法目的等
- Generally, parties to a contract can agree to anything they like: agree to any ‘terms and conditions’ … ‘freedom of contract’
- 一般来说,合同双方可以同意任何他们喜欢的内容:同意任何“条款和条件”……“合同自由”
- Some exceptions to the above rule:Fairness, legality, honesty etc and other requirements imposed by law
- 上述规则的例外情况:公平、合法性、诚实等和其他法律规定的要求
- Must be properly made known
- Terms must be brought to the notice of the party accepting them and their acceptance shown
- 条款必须提请接受条款的一方注意,并显示其接受
Standard T&Cs – rules(Art.39)
If standard clauses are used in making a contract, the party that provides the standard clauses shall determine the rights and obligations between the parties in accordance with the principle of fairness, and shall call in a reasonable manner the other party’s attention to the exemptible and restrictive clauses regarding its liability, and give explanations of such clauses at the request of the other party.
采用格式条款订立合同的,提供格式条款的一方应当按照公平原则确定当事人之间的权利和义务,并以合理的方式提请对方注意有关责任的免责条款和限制性条款,并根据对方的要求对这些条款作出解释。
如果要公平,就得满足:
- Attention drawn to exemptions and restrictions in a reasonable manner
以合理的方式注意豁免和限制 - Explanation given about above clauses at customer request
应客户要求对上述条款进行解释
【就是art.39中粗体的两个】
Standard T&Cs - Validity (Art.40,51,52)
Article 40
Standard clauses shall become invalid if they fall under any of the circumstances set forth in Articles 52 and 53 of this Law or if the party that provides the standard clauses exempts itself from the liability, imposes heavier liability on the other party, or precludes the other party from its main rights
格式条款有本法第五十二条、第五十三条规定情形之一的,或者提供格式条款的一方免除责任、加重对方责任或者剥夺对方主要权利的,格式条款无效
Article 52 Invalidating Circumstances
A contract is invalid in any of the following circumstances:
(i) One party induced conclusion of the contract through fraud or duress, thereby harming the interests of the state;
(ii) The parties colluded in bad faith, thereby harming the interests of the state, the collective or any third party;
(iii) The parties intended to conceal an illegal purpose under the guise of a legitimate transaction;
(iv) The contract harms public interests;
(v) The contract violates a mandatory provision of any law or administrative regulation.
有下列情形之一的,合同无效:
(一)一方当事人以欺诈、胁迫的手段订立合同,损害国家利益的;
(二)恶意串通,损害国家、集体或者第三人利益的;
(三)当事人企图以合法交易为幌子掩盖非法目的;
(四)损害社会公共利益的;
(五)违反法律、行政法规强制性规定的。
Article 53 Invalidity of Certain Exculpatory Provisions
The following exculpatory provisions in a contract are invalid:
(i) excluding one party’s liability for personal injury caused to the other party;
(ii) excluding one party’s liability for property loss caused to the other party by its intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
合同中的下列免责条款无效:
(一)排除一方对另一方造成人身伤害的责任;
(二)不包括一方因故意或者重大过失给另一方造成财产损失的责任。
Consequences of invalid terms
- In some cases, the contract will not be enforced by the court
- 在某些情况下,合同不会被法院强制执行
- In other cases, such as limited capacity, e.g. contract with a minor, when the minor becomes an adult, may choose to ‘ratify’ the contract.
- 在其他情况下,例如能力有限,例如与未成年人签订的合同,当未成年人成年后,可以选择“批准”合同
Amend or terminate a contract
根据Art.8,理论上签订的合同是不能被修改或者终止的。但是合同法规定了可以修改或者终止的条件,即mutual agreement
- Article 77 Amendment
- A contract may be amended if the parties have so agreed.
- 当事人协商一致,可以修改合同。
- Article 93 Termination by Agreement
- The parties may terminate a contract if they have so agreed.
- 当事人协商一致,可以解除合同。
一方想修改/解除合同的情况(Art.54)
Article 54
Either party has the right to request a people’s court or an arbitration institution to alter or rescind any of the following contracts:
(1) any contract which is made under substantial misunderstanding; or
(2) any contract the making of which lacks fairness (grossly unconscionable)
任何一方都有权请求人民法院或者仲裁机构变更或者解除下列合同:
(1)因重大误解而订立的合同;或
(2)订立的合同不公平(严重不合理)的
major mistake/substantial misunderstanding
Supreme Court’s Opinion in the Implementation of the General Principle of Civil Law: ‘a major mistake’ refers to mistakes regarding:
- the nature of the contract;
- the identity of contractual parties; or
- the nature, the quality, the quantity and the specification of the subject matter that contradict the real intent of the party, and subsequently cause significant loss.
最高法院关于实施民法通则的意见:“重大错误”是指以下方面的错误:
(一)合同的性质;
(二)合同当事人的身份;或
(三)标的物的性质、质量、数量、规格与当事人的真实意思相抵触,造成重大损失的。
protective contract formation method
- Legal interpretation may not be liberal to the merchant!
- 法律解释对商人不一定是自由的!
- If ‘contract’ concluded, hard to correct the price for sales already ‘accepted’
- 如果“合同”已经签订,很难修改已经“接受”的销售价格。
- Web merchant may be bound to supply at price inputted in error…
- 网上商家可能被迫按错误输入的价格供货。
比如10000块的东西标错价格了100卖出去了,正常来说是商家要承担亏损而发货的,不会因此改变合同
那么怎么办呢?就要用到protective contract formation method(保护性合同的订立方法)了,即用T&C(incl. on price error)来避免(特地设立关于价格错误的T&C)
接下来是e-Transaction部分
Legal Requirement
- PRC Civil Procedure Law - Article 64
- It is the duty of a party to an action to provide evidence in support of his allegations
- 诉讼一方的责任是提供证据支持其指控
- 但是!Evidence must be ‘original’
那么什么是original呢?
Original
PRC Civil Procedure Law - Article 68
- Any document submitted as evidence must be the original. Material evidence must also be original. If it is truly difficult to present the original document or thing, then reproductions, photographs, duplicates or extracts of the original may be submitted.
- 任何作为证据提交的文件必须是原件。物证也必须是原始的。提交原件确有困难的,可以提交原件的复制品、照片、副本或者摘录
Examples of laws requiring written form
PRC Contract Law Article 10
- The parties may, when making a contract, use written form, verbal form or any other form.
- 当事人订立合同,可以采用书面形式、口头形式或者其他形式。
- The written form shall be adopted if laws or administrative regulations so require. The written form shall be adopted if the parties so agree.
- 法律、行政法规规定采用书面形式的,应当采用书面形式。当事人约定采用书面形式的,应当采用书面形式。
- PRC Labor Law Article 10 To establish a labor relationship, a written labor contract shall be concluded.
- 《中华人民共和国劳动法》第十条建立劳动关系,应当订立书面劳动合同。
关于电子支付的支付确认
Article 56 PRC E-Commerce Law
- Upon completion of the electronic payment, the electronic payment service provider shall, promptly and accurately, provide payment confirmation to the user in the agreed manner
- 电子支付完成后,电子支付服务商应当按照约定的方式及时、准确地向用户提供支付确认
“协调”相关法律的国际组织
- UNCITRAL (Model Laws, Conventions)
- OECD (internet taxation, e-commerce consumer protection, privacy)
- WIPO ( digital copyright, trademarksdomain names)
- ICANN (domain name resolution policies)
- WTO ( e-commerce trade barriers)
- Hague Conference (internet jurisdiction)
各个国家法律的差异可能会成为自由贸易的障碍,所以UNCITRAL(联合国国际贸易法委员会)在推进国际贸易法
中国推出了 Electronic Signature Law of the
People’s Republic of China, 2006
Principle of Non-Discrimination
无差异原则
- e-transactions not be denied legal effect simply because they are electronic
- 不能因为电子交易是电子的,就否认其法律效力
接下来介绍一些 PRC Electronic Signature Law 的法律条文
definition of ‘data message’ (Art.2)
- The data message as mentioned in this Law means the information generated, dispatched, received or stored by electronic, optical, magnetic or similar means.
- 本法所称数据电文,是指通过电子、光、磁等方式产生、发送、接收、存储的信息。
【e-transactions take place through ‘data messages’】
‘admissible’ (Art.3)
The legal effect of a document, with regard to which the parties concerned have agreed to use electronic signature or data message, shall not be denied only because the form of electronic signature or data message is adopted (certain transactions excluded)
当事人约定使用电子签名或者数据电文的文件,不得仅因采用了电子签名或者数据电文的形式而否定其法律效力(某些交易除外)
【和上面的无差异原则差不多,就是告诉你E-transaction是legal effect的】
- All paperless transactions are ‘Legally admissible’– can be admitted as proof
- 所有的无纸化交易都是“合法的”——可以作为证据
那么接下来的主要问题就是确认electronic signiture和data message有没有 legal reliability(法律可靠性),即根据法律来说它可以当做证据,具有legal admissibility,但是是不是可信的,不一定
Solution: re-defining requirements for an electronic world
- Identifying what functions the requirements serve
- 确定需求的功能
- Prescribing what criteria the data messages must meet to be found ‘equivalent’ to requirement for ‘writing’, ‘original’, ‘signature’
- 订明数据电文必须符合什么标准,才可视为与“书面”、“原始”、“签名”的要求“等同”
【第一次出现了这个part的三个相当重要的核心关键词,writing,original,signiture,接下来的内容大部分是关于如何界定这三个词】
UNCITRAL MLEC关于writing的定义
【UNCITRAL MLEC:UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce】
Identifying the functions of ‘writing’ in law:
- To provide a visible representation of the transaction
- 提供事务的可见表示
- To provide a permanent record of transaction
- 提供交易的永久记录
Article 6. Writing (1)
- Where the law requires information to be in writing, that requirement is met by a data message if the information contained therein is accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference.
- 凡法律要求资料须以书面形式提供的,如资料电文所载的资料可供查阅以供日后参考,则该规定由数据电文予以满足。
China对于“writing form”的定义
Article 11 Contract Act of the People’s Republic of China 1999
(1999年的合同法)
- “Written form” as used herein means any form which renders the information contained in a contract capable of being reproduced in tangible form such as a written agreement, a letter, or electronic text (including telegram, telex, facsimile, electronic data interchange and e-mail
- 本文所使用的“书面形式”是指使合同中所包含的信息能够以有形形式复制的任何形式,如书面协议、信函或电子文本(包括电报、电传、传真、电子数据交换和电子邮件)
这个更重要!
Article 4 PRC Electronic Signature Law, 2006
- A data message, which can give visible expression to the contents carried and can readily be picked up for reference, shall be deemed to be the written form which conforms to the requirements of laws and regulations
数据电文对所载内容能够直观地表达出来,并且可以随时查阅的,视为符合法律、法规要求的书面形式
【这个定义要仔细理解,这个是我们用的更多的关于“writing”的定义】
【就是可以被翻译/显示为人可以阅读的文字的data message,二进制数字这种就不是writing】
接下来是下一个关键词,original
UNCITRAL给original的定义
Article 8. Original
Electronic messages will meet requirement if
电子信息将符合要求,如果
- Reliable assurance of integrity of information is provided from time of generation
- 从生成时起,就提供了信息完整性的可靠保证
- Information capable of being displayed to the person to whom it is to be presented
- 能够显示给被展示者的信息
- Criteria for assessing integrity
- 评估诚信的准则
- Essentially, whether the information has remained complete and unaltered,
- 从本质上来说,信息是否完整和未被改变,
- And, If the message can be read
- 以及,消息是否可以被读取
PRC E-Signiture law 对original的定义(Art.5)
这个定义建立在UNCITRAL的基础上
Article 5 Data messages that meet the following conditions shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements for the form of the original copies as provided for by laws and regulations:
符合下列条件的数据电文,视为满足法律法规对原件形式的要求:
(1) messages that can give effective expression to the contents carried and can readily be picked up for reference; and
能有效表达所载内容、便于查阅的信息;
(2) messages that can unfailingly guarantee that the contents remain complete and unaltered from the time when they are finally generated. And the completeness of the data messages shall not be affected when endorsements are added to the data messages or when their forms are altered in the process of data interchange, storage and display.
能够始终保证内容在最终生成时保持完整和不变的消息。数据电文在数据交换、存储和显示过程中增加背书或者改变形式,不影响数据电文的完整性。
【注意粗体重点,两个核心:有效表达和保持完整不变】
requirements for document preservation(Art.6)
Article 6 Data messages that meet the following conditions shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements for document preservation as provided for by laws and regulations:
符合下列条件的数据电文,视为符合法律法规规定的文件保存要求:
(1) messages that can give effective expression to the contents carried and can readily be picked up for reference;
能有效表达所载内容、便于查阅的信息;
(2) the format of the data messages is the same as the format when they are generated, dispatched or received, or although the format is not the same, the contents originally generated, dispatched or received can accurately be expressed; and
数据电文的格式与数据电文产生、分派、接收时的格式相同,或者虽然格式不相同,但能够准确地表示出原始产生、分派、接收的内容;而且
(3) messages the addressers and receivers of which and the time of their dispatch and receipt can be identified.
可以确定其发件人和收件人及其发送和接收时间的消息。
【三个重点:有效表达、完整性、确定接受和发送的时间】
接下来,我们先讨论一下e-record的可靠性(reliability)
PRC E-Signature Law on reliability of e-records(Art.8)
Article 8 The following factors shall be taken into consideration when the truthfulness of data messages to be used as evidence is examined:
对用作证据的数据电文的真实性进行审查时,应考虑以下因素:
- the reliability of the methods used for generating, storing or transmitting the data messages;
- 用于生成、存储或传输数据电文的方法的可靠性;
- the reliability of the methods used for keeping the completeness of the contents;
- 用于保持内容完整性的方法的可靠性;
- the reliability of the methods for distinguishing the addressers; and
- 寻址区分方法的可靠性;和
- other relevant factors
- 其他相关因素
法律要求signiture(签名)来确认交易,接下来我们主要说signiture
function of a signiture
To provide evidence of
提供…的证据
- The identity of the signatory
- 签字人的身份
- Signatory’s intention to sign
- 签署人签署的意向
- That the signatory adopts the contents of the document
- 签署者接受文件的内容
- Signatures ‘legally bind’ us to a transaction
- 签名“在法律上将我们与交易绑定”
【身份,意向,内容三点】
Handwritten signature
- 手写签名(一般是写名字)是线下最重要的证明手段,因为其难以伪造,且有办法去检查是否是伪造的,所以是值得相信的
- Handwritten signature –commercially widely adopted/ evidentiary value deemed high
- 手写签名-商业上广泛采用/证据价值被认为很高
Legal presumption
法律推定
- Something is assumed to be true, unless proved not to be
- 某事被认为是正确的,除非被证明是错误的
在signiture中,就是 - Courts: presume signature valid, unless proved otherwise
- 法院:假定签名有效,除非另有证明
E-signature laws
Different approaches:
- Minimalist/Technology neutral
- 极简主义/技术中立
- Two-tier/Technology specific
- 两层/技术具体
Minimalist / technology neutral
Recognize all e-signatures as legally binding, whatever the technology, reliability tested in court
承认所有电子签名都具有法律约束力,无论技术如何,可靠性在法庭上得到了检验
举例:
- UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce 1996
- US E-Signature Law
UNCITRAL MLEC 中对e-signiture的定义
Electronic data
• Attached/ associated with a data message
附加的/关联的数据消息
• Functions, to:
- identify the signatory of the data message
- 识别数据消息的签名者
- indicate signatory’s approval of the information in the data message
- 表示签署人对数据电文中的信息的批准
Article 7. Signature
(1) Where the law requires a signature of a person, that requirement is met in relation to a data message if:
如法律规定某人须签字,则在下列情况下,就数据电文而言,该规定即符合:
(a) a method is used to identify that person and to indicate that person’s approval of the information contained in the data message; and
一种方法,用于识别该人并表明该人对数据电文中所载信息的批准;而且
(b) that method is as reliable as was appropriate for the purpose for which the data message was generated or communicated, in the light of all the circumstances, including any relevant agreement.
考虑到所有情况,包括任何相关协议,该方法的可靠性与生成或通信数据电文的目的相称。
【反正目的就是识别身份+确定签字人认可】
Two-tier / technology specific
• Recognize all e-signatures
识别所有电子签名
• Grant greater legal certainty to certain signature technologies
赋予某些签名技术更大的法律确定性
举例:
- UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures 2001
- EU Electronic Signature Directive 2000
- Singapore Electronic Transactions Act 1998
- China E-Signature Law, 2006
UNCITRAL MLEC 2001 对于reliable e-signiture的定义
Reliable e-signature is one where:
可靠的电子签名是:
• Signature creation data
- uniquely linked to the signatory alone
- 唯一链接到签名者
- under control of signatory alone
- 仅由签字人控制
• Alterations to signature after signing detectable
可检测到签名后的更改
• Alteration made to information after signing detectable
可检测到签名后对信息的更改
【能确定签字人身份且只由签字人控制,签名和信息的更改都能检测到】
(关于如何检测,后面会说)
PRC E-signiture Law,2006
- Based on UNCITRAL E-Signature Model Law
- 以《贸易法委员会电子签名示范法》为基础
- Two-tier legislation
- 以Two-tier方法来立法
- All signatures are admissible
- 所有签名都是可以接受的
- But reliable e-signature: legally, equivalent to a handwritten signature or seal
- 但可靠的电子签名:在法律上,相当于手写签名或盖章
PRC E-signiture Law中对e-signiture的说明(Art.2,3)
Article 2
For the purposes of this Law, electronic signature means the data in electronic form contained in and attached to a data message to be used for identifying the identity of the signatory and for showing that the signatory recognizes what is in the message
本法所称电子签名,是指数据电文中所载并附于电文的电子形式的数据,用于识别签字人的身份和表明签字人认识电文内容
Article 3
The parties concerned may agree to use or not to use electronic signature or data message in such documentations as contracts and other documents, receipts and vouchers in civil activities.
The legal effect of a document, with regard to which the parties concerned have agreed to use electronic signature or data message, shall not be denied only because the form of electronic signature or data message is adopted.
The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall not be applicable to the following documents:
(1) documents relating to such personal relations as marriage, adoption and succession;
(2) documents relating to the transfer of the rights and interests residing in such real estate as land and houses;
(3) documents relating to termination of such public utility services as water supply, heat supply, gas supply and power supply; and
(4) other circumstances where electronic documentation is not applicable, as provided for by laws and administrative regulations.
当事人可以约定在民事活动中的合同等文件、收据、凭证等文件中使用或者不使用电子签名或者数据电文。
当事人约定使用电子签名或者数据电文的文件,不因采用了电子签名或者数据电文的形式而否定其法律效力。
前款规定不适用于下列文件:
(一)婚姻、收养、继承等个人关系文件;
(二)土地、房屋等不动产的权益转让文件;
(三)终止供水、供热、供气、供电等公用事业服务的文件;而且
(四)法律、行政法规规定不适用电子文件的其他情形。
对Art.3的拆分分析
- Admissibility:如果同意,就不否认其法律效力
- 对于四种不适用的文件,只能用纸质版(only paper and ink),电子签名无效
PRC E-signiture Law中对e-signiture reliability的说明(Art.13,14)
Article 13
If an electronic signature concurrently meets the following conditions, it shall be deemed as a reliable electronic signature:
(1) when the creation data of the electronic signature are used for electronic signature, it exclusively belongs to an electronic signatory;
(2) when the signature is entered, its creation data are controlled only by the electronic signatory;
(3) after the signature is entered, any alteration made to the electronic signature can be detected; and
(4) after the signature is entered, any alteration made to the contents and form of a data message can be detected.
The parties concerned may also choose to use the electronic signatures which meet the conditions of reliability they have agreed to.
电子签名同时满足下列条件的,视为可靠的电子签名:
(1)电子签名的创建数据用于电子签名时,该数据专属于电子签名人;
(2)签名输入时,其创建数据仅由电子签名人控制;
(3)电子签名输入后,可以检测到对电子签名的修改;而且
(4)输入签名后,可以检测到对数据电文的内容和形式所作的任何更改。
当事人也可以选择使用符合其约定的可靠条件的电子签名。
Article 14
A reliable electronic signature shall have equal legal force with handwritten signature or the seal.
可靠的电子签名与手写签名、印章具有同等法律效力。
digital signature
What is a digital signature?
- Created and verified using cryptography
- 使用密码学创建和验证
cryptography
Definition:branch of applied mathematics that concerns itself with transforming messages into seemingly unintelligible form and back into the original form
定义:应用数学的一个分支,研究如何将信息转换成看似难以理解的形式,然后再转换回原始形式
有两个分类
- Symmetric cryptography 对称加密
- Asymmetric cryptography 非对称加密
Encryption and Decryption
加密与解密
【密码学内容自己看PPT,这里就不浪费时间了,反正就是非对称加密比对称加密好】
还有就是这张图,看看就得了
还有在最后一页的一句话要注意一下
As far as the law is concerned, they are all electronic signatures but with different degrees of reliability. The law considers electronic signatures made using asymmetric cryptography where identity is established by a certificate authority as reliable, unless proved to be not so.
就法律而言,它们都是电子签名,但可靠性不同。法律认为使用非对称密码学制作的电子签名是可靠的,其中身份是由证书颁发机构建立的,除非被证明不可靠。