Why the Law Regulates Online Store Terms
E-commerce terms and conditions are the document every trader offers to consumers in online trade, and it is precisely in this document that clauses effectively stripping consumers of their rights are often hidden. Terms drafted unilaterally in advance and offered to the consumer on a take-it-or-leave-it basis require special legal control. The Georgian Law on Protection of Consumer Rights exercises this control in several directions: Article 21 establishes the rules on standard terms, Article 22 defines the invalidity of unfair terms, and Article 23 sets out the exceptions to that invalidity, while Articles 11, 12 and 13 govern off-premises and distance contracts, including the trader's information duties and the consumer's right of withdrawal. Understanding this framework allows both traders drafting their terms and consumers facing unfair clauses to assess the situation correctly.