This book focuses on unfair contract terms in consumer contracts, in particular the existing legislation and the proposals by the Law Commissions for a new unified regime. In this context it considers, in particular, what we mean by fairness (both procedurally and in substance); the tools used; the European dimension; the move from general principles from the more piecemeal approach typical in UK legal tradition; and the further move in this direction as a result of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive.

The ideology of human rights protection has gained considerable momentum during the second half of the twentieth century at both national and international level and appears to be an effective lever for bringing about legal change. This book analyzes this strategy in economic and commercial policy and considers the transportation of the 'public law' discourse of basic human rights protection into the 'commercial law' context of economic policy, business activity and corporate behaviour. The volume will prove indispensable for anyone interested in human rights, international law, and business...

Electronic Commerce and International Private Law examines the maximization of consumer protection via the consumer's jurisdiction and law. It discusses the proposition that a new connecting factor be used to improve the efficiency of juridical protection for consumers who contract with foreign sellers by electronic means and offers recommendations as to how to amend existing jurisdiction and choice of law rules to provide a basis for the consumer to sue in his own jurisdiction and for the law of the consumer's domicile to apply. The book will be a valuable resource for academics, students...

This volume examines the evolution of Central European product liability systems, with particular reference to the effect of the implementation of the Product Liability Directive in the context of the recent enlargement of the EU. This book also provides a comparison of how product liability law has evolved in the socialist states, comparing it to developments taking place in the West. Using product liability law, this study offers a valuable insight into the necessary features and requirements of the harmonization of laws between the EU and post-socialist Europe. Predominantly legal in...

Consumer law, particularly consumer credit law, is characterised by increasingly complex regulation in Western economies. Reacting to the Global Financial Crisis, governments in the UK, the EU, Australia, New Zealand and the United States have adopted new laws dealing with consumer credit, responsible lending, consumer guarantees and unfair contracts. Drawing together authors from all of these jurisdictions, this book analyses and evaluates these initiatives, and makes predictions as to their likely success and possible flaws.

Information requirements have become a key element of consumer policy at the European level and are also gaining increasing importance in all other areas of private law. The law stipulates that information provided should not be misleading and also involves requirements regarding the fairness and objectivity of what has been provided. In addition to controlling the veracity of what is voluntarily offered by traders, the law increasingly requires disclosure of certain information. This volume focuses especially on the question of how these information requirements influence the party autonomy....