论民法典网购合同成立时间规则的适用

Application of the Rules on the Conclusion Time of Online-Shopping Contract in Civil Code

理论界与实务界对网购合同成立时间的认定分歧,主要源于对“网购链接”的性质存在不同认识。为规制电商平台恶意“砍单”,电子商务法第49条第2款否定了电商平台通过格式条款与网购用户约定“合同自发货时成立”这一商业惯例的合法性;在网购合同成立时间这一问题上,民法典虽然大体上延续了电子商务法的立场,但并未吸收前述条款的内容。基于网购合同特殊性的考量,为最大限度平衡交易双方的合法权益,宜认定民法典第491条第2款并未直接废止电子商务法第49条第2款,而是将网购合同成立时间格式条款的效力判定纳入民法典第496条和第497条的体系中予以考量;电子商务法第49条第2款的适用范围应当作限制解释,只要网购平台以明示的方式提醒网购用户前述合同成立格式条款的存在,就应当认定该格式条款有效;若网购平台未履行这一提示义务,则格式条款无效。

The differences of the conclusion time of online shopping contracts between the theoretical and practical circles are mainly attributed to the divergent understandings of the nature of“online-shopping links”.In order to regulate the malicious“Cancel order”of E-commerce platforms,Paragraph 2 of Article 49 of the Electronic Commerce Law negates the legitimacy of the business practice of E-commerce platforms to agree with online shopping users through standard clauses that“the contract is formed when the goods are shipped”.On the issue of the time of establishment of online shopping contracts,although Civil Code generally retains the standing of the Electronic Commerce Law,it does not accept the content of the above clauses.Considering the particularity of the online shopping contract,in order to balance the rights and interests of both parties to the greatest extent,it should be considered that Paragraph 2 of Article 491 of Civil Code does not directly abolish the Paragraph 2 of Article 49 of the Electronic Commerce Law.Conversely,the issue of the validity of the standard clauses on the time of the conclusion of contract is included in the Articles 496 and 497 of Civil Code.The scope of application of the latter should be interpreted restrictively.The standard clauses shall be deemed valid as long as the online shopping platform explicitly reminds the users of the existence of the aforementioned standard clauses regarding the conclusion of the contract,not vice versa.