Consumer Law In The Information Society

This work looks at the consequences of the development of information technology and the information society for consumers and for consumer law. While the new technological environment has been greeted with enthusiasm by many, citing the improvement in consumer choice, convenience, and the accessibility of information, there have also been calls to focus on the needs of those consumers who cannot easily gain access to the benefits associated with the new technology.

This collection of papers examines developments in consumer protection legislation around the world in response to technological advances and focuses on issues such as electronic marketing, electronic commerce, financial services, product liability, intellectual property, and rights of access to information. Issues such as how and to what extent the new environment should be regulated, as well as the impact of changes in the globalized information market, are also discussed.

This volume arose from the 7th International Consumer Law Conference, held in Helsinki in 1999 under the auspices of the International Association for Consumer Law.

Part I: Consumers and Consumer Protection in the Information Society.
1. The Consumer in the Globalised Information Society The Impact of the International Organizations; D. Harland.
2. The Influence of Social Reforms and the Information Society on Consumers in a Transition Economy; H. Pisuke.
3. Consumer Protection in the Era of Informational Capitalism; I. Ramsay.
4. The Future of Consumer Education and Consumer Information in a Market Economy; U. Reifner.

Part II: Electronic Marketing.
5. Electronic Marketing from a Consumer Law Perspective; P. Eklund.

Part III.: Electronic Commerce.
6. The Country of Origin Principle in E-Commerce Viewed from a Greek Law Perspective; E. Alexandridou.
7. The Consumer in Electronic Commerce: Beyond Confidence; B. De Nayer.
8. EU Internet and Electronic Commerce Law: Consumers and Non-Consumers; J. Dickie.
9. Access to Justice in the Information Society; J. Fazekas.
10. The Information Duty in Connection with Consumer Sales over the Net; L. Olsen.
11. Consumerism and Citizenship in the Information Society The Case of Electronic Contracting; N. Reich.
12. Co-Regulating the Internet; J. Rothchild.
13. Electronic Commerce and Travel Law; K. Tonner.

Part IV: Financial Services.
14. Changing Technology and Consumer Credit Regulation; E.V. Lanyon.
15. Banking in the Information Society: a Brazilian Vision; C. Lima Marques.
16. Protection of Privacy: A Consumer Perspective; N. Misita.

Part V: New Responsibilities.
17. The Millennium Bug and Product Liability; G.G. Howells.

Part VI: Access and Intellectual Property.
18. Access to the Information of the Public Sector: Problems with Intellectual Property and Public Registers, Regarding Consumer's Safeguard; S. Camara-Lapuente.
19. Intellectual Property Confronts Counterfeiting in Africa: Protecting Innovators and Consumers in the Cybersociety; B. Sihanya.

Part VII: Consumers and the Media.
20. The Consumer's Right to Knowledge and the Press; T. Wilhelmsson. Table of Legislation. Index.