Jurisdictional issues in cyberspace: What should article 7 — Consumer contracts, of the proposed Hague convention, aim to accomplish in relation to e-commerce?

Currently there is a proposal for a convention regulating jurisdiction and enforcement of international judgments — the Hague Convention1. In 1992, when the work was initiated, no one could foresee the enormous growth of the Internet and the impact this growth has had on the number of contacts occurring between individuals, companies and organizations from different countries. The Internet has considerably complicated the completion of the Convention, but it also augments the importance of the Convention. Concerns have been raised regarding several issues within the Convention, one being the question of consumer contracts. There has been some debate about how Article 7, regulating consumer contracts, should work in relation to the particular difficulties introduced by E-commerce. This article explores these questions and the issues involved.