Unit 5: Contract Law

CHAPTER 16: ELEMENTS OF A CONTRACT

E-ACTIVITY: E-COMMERCE AND ONLINE CONTRACTS (p. 500)

Activity: Prepare Role-Plays About E-Commerce and Online Contracts

Consumers need to be aware of their rights and know how to protect their interests. This is especially difficult in new areas, such as electronic commerce. What rights and protections should consumers who deal with on-line contracts have? What steps should vendors take to ensure their contractual dealings are fair?

Create a series of role-plays in which you explore the answers to these questions.

1. Visit the Web site for the Consumer Connection Feature at Industry Canada. Download the html or adobe acrobat version of “Principles of Consumer Protection Electronic Commerce: A Canadian Framework”. Within the document, find the “Summary of Principles” to consider in detail.
   
   
2. For additional pointers for on-line consumers, access the Industry Canada Web site. Download the html or adobe acrobat version document “Shopping on the Internet: Get Informed” to consider in detail.
3. Form a group with some classmates to discuss particularly:
   • principles for protection for consumers and vendors
   • consumer tips for shopping on the Internet
     

   Then develop a series of role-plays about the subject-including situations that might arise in e-commerce. Prepare to present the role-plays to the class and later answer questions from the class about them.