Thesis (LLM)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation examines the conclusion of contracts on the Internet in English and
South African law on the one hand, and German law on the other. Because these
legal systems have not developed specific rules for the formation of contracts by way
of this medium of communication, the question is whether the traditional doctrines are
adequate to the demands of tecnological innovation. The study accordingly
proceeds from a detailed discussion of the traditional rules of offer and acceptance
developed in each of the systems. To this end, the leading cases and of English and
South African law are considered with an emphasis on the points of difference
between the approach of the courts in these systems. Where there is uncertainty or
different points of view, regard is had to the critical points of view of English and
South African commentators. In respect of the codified German civil law, the
authoritative provisions of the general part of the civil code are discussed against the
background of the commentary of academic authors.
An investigation of the technical structure of the Internet and the various methods of
communication afforded by it, provides a foundation for an examination of the
application of the general principles of the various legal systems to contract formation
on the Internet. It is concluded that despite fundamental differences in the of
approach of the systems under consideration, the general principles of each system
are capable of application in the context of electronic contracting. The dissertation
endeavours to develop proposals regarding adequate solutions to the problems
typical of the process of contract formation on the Internet. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is afgestem op die hantering van kontraksluiting op die Internet in die
Engelse en Suid-Afrikaanse Reg aan die een kant, en die Duitse Reg aan die ander
kant. Omrede geeneen van hierdie stelsels tot op hede spesifieke maatreëls
daargestel het vir kontraksluiting deur middel van hierdie kommunikasiemiddel nie, is
die vraag of tradisionele beginsels afdoende is met die oog op eise van die nuwe
tegnologie. Die ondersoek gaan derhalwe uit van 'n behandeling van die tradisionele
reëls van aanbod en aanname soos wat dit in elkeen van die stelsels ontwikkel het.
Met die oog hierop, word sleutelvonnisse van die Engelse en Suid-Afrikaanse reg
ontleed, veral dan ook met klem op verskille in die benadering van die howe in
hierdie twee stelsels. In geval van onsekerheid en verskille van mening, word verwys
na die kritiese standpunte van Engelse en Suid-Afrikaanse kommentatore. Met
verwysing na die gekodifiseerde Duitse stelsel word die gesaghebbende bepalings
van die Burgerlike Wetboek behandel teen die agtergrond van die kommentaar van
Duitse akademiese skrywers.
'n Ontleding van die tegniese struktuur van die Internet en die verskillende
kommunikasiemetodes wat dit bied, verskaf die grondslag vir 'n ondersoek na die
toepaslikheid van die algemene beginsels aangaande kontraksluiting van die
onderskeie regstelsels in die konteks van elektroniese kontraktering. Die
gevolgtrekking is dat ten spyte van fundamentele verskille in benadering, die
algemene beginsels van die verkillende stelsels wel aanwendbaar is in die nuwe
omgewing. Die verhandeling poog om 'n bydrae te lewer tot die ontwikkeling van
aanvaarbare oplossings tot die probleme wat tipies is aan kontraksluiting deur middel
van die Internet.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52746 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Helmholz, Niels |
| Contributors | Lubbe, G. F., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Public Law. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 126 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
Page generated in 0.002 seconds