Making Electronic Contracts Reliable(论电子合同的合法与可靠性)
宋政平
【全文】
（这篇论文是结合新西兰正在议会讨论的电子商务法而写的，从中读者可以了解到英美法系关于合同及电子商务的基本原则，由于论文是用英文写的，且有8000字左右，是否适合，请考虑。如必要我可以删节并译成中文发表。不求稿酬。）
SONG, ZHENGPING
MAKING THE ELECTRONIC CONTRACTS RELIABLE
LLM RESEARCH PAPER
LAWS 520 CYBERSPACE LAW
LAW FACULTY
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON
2001
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………….1
MAIN TEXT………………………………………………………………2
I INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………..2
II CREATION OF ELECTRONIC CONTRACTS…………………….3
A Basic forms of electronic contracts…………………………..3
B When and where is the acceptance effective…………………4
1 Email---the postal rule, a controversial issue…………..4
2 Click wrap contracts------definite receipt rule………...10
III HOW ARE ELECTRONIC CONTRACTS EVIDENCED
_____ ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES…………………………….12
A Why Are Electronic Signatures Needed……………………….12
B What are the Functions of Signatures………………………….13
C Brief Introduction to Digital Signatures……………………… 14
1 Significance of electronic signatures………………….15
2 Technological neutrality and its problem…………….. 15
3 Consent to the use of electronic signatures……………..15
D Admissibility of a Simple Email Signature…………………….16
E Some Problems with Click-wrap Contracts…………………….18
IV DIFFERENCT CIRCUMSTANCES OF ATTRIBUTION
OF DATA MESSAGES…………………………………………….20
A Hacker’s Attacks………………………………………………21
B Minors’ Contracts……………………………………………...24
V RECENT LEGISLATION ON THE LEGALITY
OF ELECTRONIC CONTRACTS……………………………………25
A UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce…………...25
B US.--- Uniform Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (UETA)…..25
C EU.---Directive 2000/31/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of June 2000…………………..26
D Australia--- Electronic Transactions Act 1999………………..26
E The Electronic Transactions Bill (ETB) of New Zealand…….27
VI CONCLUSION……………………………………………………..28
ABSTRACT
This paper is to discuss the challenges to the law of contract posed by contracting on line. In order to make electronic contracts as reliable or enforceable as paper-based contracts, the author analyses the creation, evidencing, attribution and legality of electronic contracts on the basis of fundamental differences between the two types of contracts. The post rule applies to contracting by email while the receipt rule applies to contracting by click-wrap. Electronic contracts can be evidenced in the proceeding of court trial by means of electronic signatures. The simple typed signature gives rise to legal effect although the evidential weight is in question. This paper emphasizes the importance of predictable and stable legal environment when talking about the attribution of data message especially in the cases of hacker’s attacks and minors’ contracts. Recent legislation of different countries including New Zealand recognises the legality of electronic contracts.
