Contract Formation: Shrinkwrap, Clickwrap, and Browsewrap licenses

Scope

• Use this page to list sources related to questions about the formation and enforceability of shrinkwrap, clickwrap, and browsewrap licenses, terms of use, etc.

News / Editorial

• Ben Kuchera, Mandatory PS3 update removes right to join in a class-action lawsuit, Ars Technica (Sep. 16, 2011).
• Jeff Neuburger, Arbitration Clause in Computer Purchase Contract Unenforceable Where Consumer's Right to Reject Additional Contract Terms Was Not Clearly Explained, New Media and Technology Law Blog (Dec. 21, 2009).
• Ed Bayley, The Xbox Live Bans: A Cautionary Tale of the TOS, Electronic Frontier Foundation (Nov. 30, 2009).
• Evan Brown, Court upholds eBay forum selection clause, Internet Cases (Oct. 26, 2009).
• Del Quentin Wilber, Man sentenced in software case, Washington Post (Oct. 23, 2009).
• Gavin Clarke, Dell refunds PC user for rejecting Windows, The Register (Oct 19, 2009). (The consumer uses EULA to obtain refund)
• Brad Stone, Craigslist Expands Legal Battle Against Spammers, New York Times (Oct. 8, 2009).
• Ryan Paul, Judge: TOS violations not a crime in teen suicide case, Ars Technica (Aug. 31, 2009).
• Patrick McGroarty, German court rules against Google's terms of service, SiliconValley.com (Aug. 31, 2009).

Legal Briefs / Opinions / Statutes

• Tradecomet.com LLC v. Google, Inc., No 09-1400 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 5, 2010) (enforcing Google's forum selection clause in its AdWords contract).
• Scherillo v. Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., 2010 WL 537805 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 17, 2010).
• Flowbee International, Inc. v. Google, Inc., 4:10-cv-00668-LB (S.D. Tex. Feb. 8, 2010) (enforcing Google's venue selection clause).
• Olmstead v. Dell, Inc., No. 08-16479 (9th Cir. Feb. 5, 2010) (Dell's choice-of-law, class action waiver, and mandatory arbitration provisions were unenforceable against plaintiffs that purchased notebook computers through Dell's website).
• Miller v. Facebook, Inc., No. 09-02810 (N.D. Ga. Jan. 15, 2010) (enforcing Facebook's forum selection clause against a user that brought a secondary copyright infringement claim in another venue).
• DeFontes v. Dell, Inc., Nos. 2004-137 and 2004-114 (R.I. Dec. 14, 2009) (where it was unclear whether a reasonably prudent consumer would understand that by keeping the Dell computer he or she was agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions agreement and retained, for a specified time, the power to reject the terms by returning the product, the mandatory arbitration provision was unenforceable).
• Cincom Systems, Inc. v. Novelis Corp. No. 07-4142 (9th Cir. 2009) (Corporate restructuring can violate "no transfer" provisions in license, which are enforceable)
• Hines v. Overstock.com, Inc., No. 09-991 (E.D.N.Y. Sep. 8, 2009) (forum-selection clause, contained in browsewrap terms of service available through a link at the bottom of a website, was not enforceable because it was not "reasonably communicated" to customer).
• PDC Labs., Inc. v. Hach Co., No. 09-1110 (C.D. Ill., Aug. 25, 2009). (Hyperlinked text in browsewrap contract is conspicuous for contract-law purposes)
• Johnson v. Microsoft Corp., No. 06-900, 2009 WL 1794400 (W.D. Wash. Jun. 23, 2009).
• Doe v. AOL LLC, 552 F.3d 1077 (9th Cir. 2009).
• Burcham v. Expedia, Inc., No. 07-1963, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17104 (E.D. Mo. Mar. 6, 2009).
• Fractional Villas Inc. v. Tahoe Clubhouse, No. 08-1396, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14767 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 25, 2009).
• In re LimitNone, LLC, 551 F.3d 572 (7th Cir. 2008).
• Hubbert v. Dell Co., No. 5-03-0643, 359 Ill. App.3d (Ill. Ct. App. 2005).
• Bowers v. Baystate Techs., Inc., 320 F.3d 1317 (Fed. Cir. 2003).