Internet: Which Court Decides? Which Law Applies? Law and Electronic Commerce

Cyberspace, the electronic super-highway or the Internet, as it is most commonly known, is a globally-networked, computer-sustained, computer-accessed and computer-generated multidimensional virtual reality, the use of which is increasing at a tremendous rate. Although much has been written on the legal issues relating to this new virtual reality, to date there has been little coverage of the private international aspects.

This new work aims to address two basic questions, namely, which court has jurisdiction and which law is to be applied when litigation arises from activity on the Internet? The book comprises seven key papers, presented by distinguished lawyers at the international colloquium organised by Utrecht University's Molengraaff Institute of Private Law and the Hague Conference on Private International Law, which was held in Utrecht in June 1997.

The main topics covered include the following: * The role of law in cyberspace * Experiences in the field of intellectual property * Can private international law provide order to the chaos? * Problems concerning jurisdiction and applicable law * Conclusions and recommendations . Le cyber espace, l'autoroute electronique de l'information ou Internet, selon le nom le plus communement admis, est un moyen de communication multi-dimensionnel organise en reseau mondial, gere, accessible et alimente par l'informatique, dont l'utilisation augmente de maniere exponentionnelle.

Bien qu'une litterature tres importante existe deja au sujet de cette realite virtuelle, les aspects de droit international prive ont recu peu d'attention a ce jour. Le present ouvrage se propose d'etudier les deux questions fondamentales en la matiere: quel tribunal decide, et quelle loi s'applique aux litiges naissant des activites conduites par le truchement d'Internet?

Ce livre contient les sept communications importantes presentees par d'eminents juristes durant le colloque international organise conjointement a Utrecht, en juin 1997, par l'Institut Molengraaff de l'Universite d'Utrecht et la Conference de La Haye de Droit international prive. Les principaux sujets couverts sont les suivants: Le role du droit sur Internet; les lecons a tirer de la propriete intellectuelle; le droit international prive peut-il mettre de l'ordre dans le chaos?; les problemes de competence et de droit applicable; des conclusions et recommandations.