Online penny auctions and the protection of the consumer under EU law

This paper examines online penny auctions, which currently attract consumer traffic but pose consumer risks also. It discusses pressing questions such as whether they are scams, entertainment shopping or gambling. It shows that though they cannot readily be considered as scams, they are suspiciously risky for consumers. Moreover, contrary to what penny auctioneers suggest, they do not allow for consumer shopping. They also share several characteristics with gambling and therefore, the possibility of legally classifying them as such is worth exploring. If they are not gambling, consumer protection legislation is fully applicable to them and can satisfactorily protect penny consumers. If penny auctions are legally classified as gambling however, protection will greatly be enhanced; they will (additionally) be subjected to strict and detailed gambling laws at least in the UK, where a mature gambling regulatory regime exists. Certain disadvantages of labeling penny auctions as gambling can relatively easily be remedied through suitably adjusting gambling laws. The paper concludes by suggesting possible approaches of legal regulation of this new online phenomenon.     

刍议网络赌博犯罪的特点、构成要件及立法完善

网络赌博犯罪是一种新型犯罪形式,凭借其犯罪成本低、风险小、利润丰厚等优势,而在全球迅速蔓延。相对于传统赌博罪来说,网络赌博罪隐蔽性更强、监控难度更大、犯罪来势更猛、危害更加严重。相较于前者,网络赌博犯罪的构成要件有其自身的独特性。当前,现行刑法、司法解释以及行政法规在规范网络赌博犯罪方面还存有不足。应该积极寻求刑事法律冲突的国际协调和合作,并尽快完善赌博罪的相关立法。     

知识经济与知识产权保护制度的博弈分析

由"知识"的更进到"知识产业"的崛起,进而一股"知识经济"的浪潮在全世界范围内涌起,这是一次世界社会整体升级的浪潮,而知识产权保护制度却是这次浪潮中与之呼应的重要内容。我们必须剖析知识经济的特质,将之放入一个立体的社会空间内,疏理出与知识产权保护制度互动的博弈基本分析思路;引入充分的变量元素,对知识经济与知识产权保护制度之间的优化发展做进一步的分析。     

赌博犯罪处罚的比较分析

由于赌博行为的严重危害性,各国和地区均从刑事法层面加以规制,并规定了各具特色的处罚制度。我国刑法中赌博罪的刑罚相对粗糙,有必要在批判性借鉴不同国家和地区的经验基础上,建构完善的处罚体系和运作机制。文章通过比较研究各国和地区的规范与实践,从刑罚体系构造、刑罚实现方式、特别犯和累犯的加重处罚以及非刑罚的保安处分和行政制裁的具体科处等方面详细论述赌博犯罪的处罚体系。     

Intimate Partner Violence within the Chinese Community in San Francisco: Problem Gambling as a Risk Factor

A total of 31 Chinese community members (8 males and 23 females) were recruited from three social service agencies in San Francisco (Donaldina Cameron House, Richmond Area Multi-Services, and St. Mary’s Chinese Center) to participate in a study examining the relationship between problem gambling and intimate partner violence (IPV). A survey approach was taken which assessed the participants’ demographic characteristics including age, gender, country of birth, and employment, as well as factors relating to their intimate partners, including partner’s alcohol abuse and problem gambling. Younger participants and those whose partners were problem gamblers were more likely to experience IPV. However, partner’s problem gambling was a significant predictor only at the ten-point cutoff on the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) (Lesieur and Blume, American Journal of Psychiatry, 1987) and not at the five-point cutoff. Chinese participants whose partners were problem gamblers (SOGS ≥ 10) were 27.5 times more likely to experience IPV. Findings are discussed and social work practice, policy, and research implications are highlighted.

体育赌博犯罪研究

体育赌博犯罪是以体育比赛的结果论输赢,从而决定财物得失的特殊赌博犯罪。犯罪组织是层级代理的＂金字塔形＂结构,依靠网络等科技手段较隐蔽。我国体育赌博犯罪具有深刻的社会转型与体育改制等背景。体育赌博犯罪具有全球化、集团化、智能化、多样化和巨额化等特征。其危害性除了败坏社会风气、增加社会不稳定因素和危害金融安全,还破坏了体育公平竞争原则、造成体育竞技水平下降和冲击体育彩票事业。     

铲除“码毒” 任重道远

由于"买码"赌博活动具有较大的诱惑力,因而在湖南省屡禁不止."买码"赌博大量搜括老百姓的钱财,严重危害人民群众的身心健康,破坏了正常的生产、生活和工作秩序,损毁了党和政府在群众中的威信,影响了社会稳定.各级党委、政府必须把打击整治"买码"赌博作为突出的政治任务来抓,加大宣传力度,有关部门形成打击合力,从党政干部、政法干警参与"买码"赌博的问题抓起,重点打击上线庄家,并建立综合治理的长效机制,以彻底铲除"码毒".     

论赌博行为之除罪化

将“以赌博为业”规定为犯罪并不是出于保护法益的需要,而是刑法泛道德化的表现,司法实践中也不具有可操作性。随着时代的发展,国家的经济政策的调整以及公民法意识的变迁,将赌博行为除罪化已是势在必行。