Informació de la Guia Docent

Presentation

Consumers' contracts are the cornerstone of consumer protection in the European Union.  The European regulator has broadly regulated market conditions – through its antitrust regulation – and pre-contractual, contractual and post contractual requirements that have to be implemented together with the member states. The disruption originated by digital networks has generated particular attention to the position of consumers in Markets, particularly digital ones.

This has resulted in an increasing security from legislators, regulators and courts in both sides of the Atlantic. Special attention has been given to consumer contracting practices online, particularly of contracts that govern the collection of consumers information

This course aims at providing a deep analysis on current aspects of the regulation of transactions of consumers in markets. Special focus will be on European law with emphasis in comparative aspects with US law.

Associated skills

The course will be mostly based on legal scholarship, some case studies and in some cases, hypotheticals so illustrate different issues.

Students will be required to read the weekly course materials in advance in order to be prepared when attending the class. All students are on call for all readings assigned for that day.

1. Capacities and skills: after successfully completing the course, students shall be:

1. equipped with an advanced knowledge and understanding of core aspects of the impact of the new technologies in the core areas of private law;
2. able to discuss public policy interests at stake and to develop their capacity to devise and sustain legal arguments and solve legal problems in the fields dealt with during the lectures; and
3. encouraged to think pragmatically about the law.

Attendance policy: attendance to at least 80% of the lectures is mandatory in order to pass the course.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

RO1. That the students can apply their knowledge to their work or vocation of a professional form in a professional way and possess the competences which are usually proved by means of the elaboration and defense of arguments and solving the solution of problems within their study area;

RO2 The student will be able to identify the main legal traditions and the main international legal systems from a comparative perspective and focus on the field of their specialty.

Skills

RO10 The student will be able to identify the solution to practical cases from the applicable legislation.

RA15. The student will be able to structure a synthetic and coherent discourse through the sources of information researched,

Competences

RA16. The student will be able to examine the world and its challenges from a global perspective, from the commitment to fundamental rights, social justice, democracy and the environment to acting personally and collectively for planetary well-being and sustainable development.

RA18. The student will be able to learn autonomously through research relating different work proposals that are included in the different courses.

Contents

1. Introduction – Why do we protect consumers?
2. Mapping European Consumer law
3. Behavioral problems in consumer law
4. European Data Protection - overview and current challenges
5. Personalization of the law and personalization of consumer contracts
6. Technology and digital markets: Current challenges for consumer protection
7. Contracts and data: legal and economic personalization of contracts in digital networks

*Reading materials for each session will be provided in advance.

Sustainable Development Goals

ODS 1 No poverty
ODS 2: Zero hunger
ODS 3: Good health and well-being
ODS 4: Quality education
ODS 5: Gender equality
ODS 6: Clean water and sanitation
ODS 7: Affordable and clean energy
ODS 8: Decent work and economic growth
ODS 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
ODS 10: Reduced inequalities
ODS 11: Sustainable cities and communities
ODS 12: Responsible consumption and production
ODS 13: Climate action
ODS 14: Life below water
ODS 15: Life on land
ODS 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
ODS 17: Aliança pels objectius / Partnerships for the goals

Evaluation and grading system

The final grade for the course will be based on several items:

1. Final examination: A final exam based on the assigned readings and the contents of the class lectures will be scheduled. The exam will test students’ understanding and familiarity with the different concepts, institutions and approaches discussed during the lectures. The exam will be closed book.
2. Hand in exercise/s: students will be asked to hand in a short exercise with questions at some point of the course.

• Exercises will be discussed in practice sessions that will be conducted throughout the course.

In case the exam is failed, a student might be able to prepare writing assignment on a specific topic in order to pass the course, if the work carried by the student throughout the course shows sufficient commitment to that end.

Información de la Guía Docente

Presentation

Consumers' contracts are the cornerstone of consumer protection in the European Union.  The European regulator has broadly regulated market conditions – through its antitrust regulation – and pre-contractual, contractual and post contractual requirements that have to be implemented together with the member states. The disruption originated by digital networks has generated particular attention to the position of consumers in Markets, particularly digital ones.

This has resulted in an increasing security from legislators, regulators and courts in both sides of the Atlantic. Special attention has been given to consumer contracting practices online, particularly of contracts that govern the collection of consumers information

This course aims at providing a deep analysis on current aspects of the regulation of transactions of consumers in markets. Special focus will be on European law with emphasis in comparative aspects with US law.

Associated skills

The course will be mostly based on legal scholarship, some case studies and in some cases, hypotheticals so illustrate different issues.

Students will be required to read the weekly course materials in advance in order to be prepared when attending the class. All students are on call for all readings assigned for that day.

1. Capacities and skills: after successfully completing the course, students shall be:

1. equipped with an advanced knowledge and understanding of core aspects of the impact of the new technologies in the core areas of private law;
2. able to discuss public policy interests at stake and to develop their capacity to devise and sustain legal arguments and solve legal problems in the fields dealt with during the lectures; and
3. encouraged to think pragmatically about the law.

Attendance policy: attendance to at least 80% of the lectures is mandatory in order to pass the course.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

RO1. That the students can apply their knowledge to their work or vocation of a professional form in a professional way and possess the competences which are usually proved by means of the elaboration and defense of arguments and solving the solution of problems within their study area;

RO2 The student will be able to identify the main legal traditions and the main international legal systems from a comparative perspective and focus on the field of their specialty.

Skills

RO10 The student will be able to identify the solution to practical cases from the applicable legislation.

RA15. The student will be able to structure a synthetic and coherent discourse through the sources of information researched,

Competences

RA16. The student will be able to examine the world and its challenges from a global perspective, from the commitment to fundamental rights, social justice, democracy and the environment to acting personally and collectively for planetary well-being and sustainable development.

RA18. The student will be able to learn autonomously through research relating different work proposals that are included in the different courses.

Contents

1. Introduction – Why do we protect consumers?
2. Mapping European Consumer law
3. Behavioral problems in consumer law
4. European Data Protection - overview and current challenges
5. Personalization of the law and personalization of consumer contracts
6. Technology and digital markets: Current challenges for consumer protection
7. Contracts and data: legal and economic personalization of contracts in digital networks

*Reading materials for each session will be provided in advance.

Sustainable Development Goals

ODS 1 No poverty
ODS 2: Zero hunger
ODS 3: Good health and well-being
ODS 4: Quality education
ODS 5: Gender equality
ODS 6: Clean water and sanitation
ODS 7: Affordable and clean energy
ODS 8: Decent work and economic growth
ODS 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
ODS 10: Reduced inequalities
ODS 11: Sustainable cities and communities
ODS 12: Responsible consumption and production
ODS 13: Climate action
ODS 14: Life below water
ODS 15: Life on land
ODS 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
ODS 17: Aliança pels objectius / Partnerships for the goals

Evaluation and grading system

The final grade for the course will be based on several items:

1. Final examination: A final exam based on the assigned readings and the contents of the class lectures will be scheduled. The exam will test students’ understanding and familiarity with the different concepts, institutions and approaches discussed during the lectures. The exam will be closed book.
2. Hand in exercise/s: students will be asked to hand in a short exercise with questions at some point of the course.

• Exercises will be discussed in practice sessions that will be conducted throughout the course.

In case the exam is failed, a student might be able to prepare writing assignment on a specific topic in order to pass the course, if the work carried by the student throughout the course shows sufficient commitment to that end.