电子格式合同中仲裁条款的效力——以中国消费者市场中Microsoft软件最终用户许可协议为例

The Analysis on Effect of the Arbitration Clause in Microsoft End-User License Agreement——From the Point of View of Chinese Consumers

本文分析了微软最终用户许可协议中仲裁条款的效力,认为该仲裁条款因不符合公平性和显著性的要求而无效,并归纳出该类以消费者为相对方的电子格式合同中仲裁条款成立并发生效力所应具备的一般条件:(1)消费者应该有机会审阅合同的实质性内容,并能够以一定方式对合同条款表示同意或不同意;(2)格式条款的提供者以适当方式提请相对人注意该仲裁条款的内容,适当方式一般表现为赋予仲裁条款以显著性;(3)该仲裁条款不能明显不公平。

The arbitration clause in Microsoft End-User License Agreement is no effect because of the lack of equity and distinctness.Arbitration clauses in such kind of electronic standard form contracts,one party of which is consumers,should possess the following general conditions for coming into existence and going into effect.First, consumers should have a chance to check the substantive provisions and express'yes'or'no'in some ways.Second,the arbitration clauses should be conspicuous enough to draw consumers' attention.Third,the arbitration clauses should not be obviously unfair.