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Skillse-commerce-pflichten

e-commerce-pflichten

General & other

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Updated 10-15 20:07

About this skill

/it-recht:e-commerce-pflichten

Purpose

Online shops are subject to a dense set of obligations. Infringements not only give rise to cease-and-desist claims, but can also mean that the contract is not concluded at all or that the right of withdrawal is significantly extended. This skill reviews an ordering process along the general obligations (§ 312i BGB), the special consumer obligations including the button solution (§ 312j BGB) and the right of withdrawal (§ 312g BGB, § 355 BGB) and identifies the civil-law and competition-law consequences.

Inputs

  • Shop type and subject matter of the contract (goods, digital content, services, subscription)
  • Target group (B2C / B2B / mixed)
  • Ordering process (shopping cart, order overview, button label)
  • Mandatory information before ordering (total price, delivery restrictions, payment methods)
  • Withdrawal instructions and model withdrawal form available?
  • Confirmation email / acknowledgement of receipt set up?

Sub-agent architecture

The review is divided among three roles. A process agent goes through the ordering process technically and reviews the general obligations under § 312i BGB (option to correct input errors, acknowledgement of receipt, retrievable contract terms). A consumer agent reviews the special obligations under § 312j BGB — mandatory information highlighted immediately before ordering and the button solution ("order with obligation to pay") — and determines whether a valid contract is concluded at all. A withdrawal agent reviews the existence, the information provided and the running of the period of the right of withdrawal (§ 312g, § 355 BGB) and any exclusions. A consolidating assessment derives civil-law consequences and risks of cease-and-desist claims from this. Cited court decisions are verified or marked with [unverifiziert – prüfen] (zero fabrication).

Procedure

1. General obligations (§ 312i BGB)

For contracts in electronic commerce (including B2B, non-mandatory):

  • appropriate technical means for recognizing and correcting input errors before ordering
  • timely, clear information about the technical steps to conclude the contract
  • immediate electronic confirmation of receipt of the order
  • option to retrieve and store the contract terms

2. Special consumer obligations and button solution (§ 312j BGB)

  • Mandatory information on the website generally: delivery restrictions and accepted means of payment clearly and comprehensibly at the beginning of the ordering process.
  • Immediately before placing the order: clear, highlighted statement of the essential characteristics, the total price, if applicable, term/minimum duration.
  • Button solution: The button must be clearly legible and labelled with nothing other than “zahlungspflichtig bestellen” or an equivalently unambiguous wording.
  • Consequence of a violation: The contract under § 312j (4) BGB does not validly come into existence — the consumer is not obliged to pay.

3. Right of withdrawal (§ 312g BGB, § 355 BGB)

  • In distance contracts with consumers, there is in principle a right of withdrawal (§ 312g BGB), exceptions in § 312g (2).
  • Withdrawal period 14 days (§ 355 BGB); it begins only upon proper instruction and (in the case of goods) receipt.
  • Missing or incorrect instruction: the period is extended, expiring at the latest 12 months and 14 days after the statutory start of the period.
  • Provide a model withdrawal instruction and withdrawal form.

4. Consequences of violations

  • Under civil law: no valid contract (§ 312j (4)), extended withdrawal period.
  • Under competition law: cease-and-desist letter by competitors/associations under the UWG, injunction, reimbursement of costs.

Risks / typical errors

  • Button solution faulty — a button such as “Bestellung abschicken” or “Anmelden” does not satisfy § 312j (3) BGB; no valid contract arises.
  • Extended withdrawal period — missing/incorrect instruction extends the period under § 355 BGB to up to 12 months and 14 days.
  • Cease-and-desist letter — missing mandatory information (unit price, delivery restrictions) or instruction errors are grounds for a cease-and-desist letter under the UWG.
  • No correction of input errors — without the possibility of correction and confirmation of receipt, there is a violation of § 312i BGB.

Output format

E-COMMERCE-PFLICHTEN — <Shop> — <Datum>

I.    Allgemeine Pflichten (§ 312i BGB)
      Eingabefehler-Korrektur:    [✓ / 🔴]
      Eingangsbestätigung:        [✓ / 🔴]
II.   Verbraucherpflichten (§ 312j BGB)
      Pflichtangaben vor Bestell.:[✓ / 🔴]
      Button-Lösung:              [✓ / 🔴 → kein wirksamer Vertrag]
III.  Widerrufsrecht (§ 312g / § 355 BGB)
      Belehrung korrekt:          [✓ / 🔴]
      Friststatus:                [14 Tage / verlängert bis 12 Mon.+14 Tg.]
IV.   Folgen
      Zivilrechtlich:             <…>
      Abmahnrisiko (UWG):         [niedrig / hoch]

Handlungsempfehlung:              <…>

Sources

  • § 312i BGB (general obligations in electronic commerce)
  • § 312j BGB (special obligations, button solution)
  • § 312g BGB, § 355 BGB (right of withdrawal)
  • Art. 246a EGBGB (distance selling information obligations)
  • ECJ, judgment of 30.05.2024 – C-400/22 (VT and UR ./. Conny GmbH), NJW 2024, 2449 (button solution under Art. 8 (2) Directive 2011/83/EU also in the case of conditional payment obligation), dejure.org