A Consumer Perspective on Forensic DNA Banking

This article describes a model of DNA banking that incorporates appropriate consumer influence on the design and use of DNA data banks. This model values input of consumer stakeholders in key decisions, including contracts between donors, researchers and the bank.     

The Future of Consumer Web Data: A European/US Perspective

The article considers the subject of clickstream data from aEuropean/US perspective, taking into account the Data ProtectionFramework (Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC; Directive onPrivacy and Electronic Communications 2002/58/EC) and the USlegal framework and in particular, the Wiretap Act U.S.C. 2701(2004) and related statutes. It examines the extent to whichclickstream data is considered "personal data" within the DataProtection Directive and the implications to consumers and businesses.     

Jurisdiction for Consumer Contracts: European Union: Modified Rules of Jurisdiction for Electronic Consumer Contracts

The Brussels Convention on Jurisdiction and the Recognition of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (the Brussels Convention) is to be replaced in 2002 by a Community Instrument: The Council Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 of 22 December 2000 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (the Regulation).¹ The Regulation is an important measure approved by the European Union to simplify rules of jurisdiction and recognition of judgments for the benefit of the Internal Market. Amongst other matters, the Regulation updates existing jurisdiction rules for a consumer contracts. The rules for consumer contracts apply where a consumer and a business are domiciled in a Member State or the business has a:“branch, agency or other establishment” in a Member State. Importantly, the Regulation clarifies jurisdiction rules for consumer contracts conducted over the World Wide Web (WWW). These rules are to be welcomed, as they provide guidance on what rules of jurisdiction apply to consumer contracts over the Web, albeit that they are limited to where the parties are domiciled in Europe. This article outlines the rules of jurisdiction for consumer contracts provided by the Regulation, and where appropriate, highlights some aspects of the new rules that will possibly require further discussion and clarification by the European Court of Justice once the new rules are in force.     

Consumer shoplifting: Orientations and deterrents

Consumer shoplifting poses a problem of social and economic significance. This study investigates such aberrant behavior from an attitudinal- and psychological-profile approach. Differences between shoplifters and nonshoplifters are examined, and managerial implications for retail store deterrence/ surveillance activities are presented.     

论消费者保护视角下缺陷产品召回制度的完善

为确保企业履行产品安全保障义务,美国创设了缺陷产品召回制度,以促使企业承担社会责任、维护消费者利益与公共安全.美国的缺陷产品召回立法完善,召回主体和范围明确,在保护消费者人身和财产安全方面发挥着积极的作用.我国新修改的《消费者权益保护法》从保护消费者权益的角度,明确了产品召回与消费者权益保护的关系,但我国的产品召回机制,从立法到实施都具有相当的局限性,影响其功能的正常发挥.为保护消费者的利益,有必要检讨我国缺陷产品召回之规定.作为对现实的回应,应统一产品召回立法,明确产品召回主体的范围,扩大产品召回对象的范围,并在产品召回程序中完善消费者的参与,进而实现保护消费者权益、维护社会公共安全和稳定经济秩序之目的.     

消费信用与消费者破产制度的建立

随着我国市场经济的快速发展,消费信用已经深入到人们的日常生活中.经济周期波动、社会不可抗力、消费者管理不善及恶意欺诈等是消费信用蕴涵的主要风险.消费信用经济的扩大化导致消费者的负债额上升.作为消费信用回收制度的消费者破产制度将推动消费信用市场的发展,避免破产司法上的诸多冲突.我国消费者破产制度的核心构成可划分为消费信用风险的防范机制、消费信用风险的分担机制、消费信用风险的保障机制、消费者滥用破产程序的道德风险抑制机制.     

消费者:人的法律形塑与制度价值

消费者是人格形象时代变迁的产物 ,对这一问题的认识必须从人的历史演进中寻求答案。在资本主义发展之初 ,自然人的结合体尚未获得正统的主体地位 ,消费者缺乏赖以产生的社会环境。自然人和法人的分化 ,使人的正统地位第一次遭受到法人的挑战。而随着法人这一虚拟人格的发展壮大 ,法律主体的实力日趋悬殊 ,消费者在垄断时代和消费社会中作为新型的人类形象出现了。消费者保护的基本价值和功能在于 :确立个体的身份认同与归属 ;启动个人涉入社会的参与和抗衡机制 ;确保个体性的不容消逝 ;聚积集体行动的社会自发力     

论消费者保护规制的理据——在经济和伦理之间

消费者保护的的经济性理据和理论性理据及二者的关系值得反思。消费者保护法及其实施,一方面应该更多地利用成本收益分析来提高效率,另一方面应该更多地关注培育共同体价值,促进社会正义、缩小贫富差距等非功利性目标。