Jurisdiction

You will want to know whether English Law and English Courts, or those of some other country, will decide any disputes. Parties are generally free to choose on this issue. However, the validity of the choice is itself a matter for the law, the place where the contract is made.

Parties in England can, and mostly do, choose English law. However, there are certain rules of international law that tell parties whether or not their choice is valid.

In England and Wales these matters are covered by the Brussels Convention. The basic rule is that defendants must be sued in their home court. The implications are significant when the reality of buying goods or services on the Internet are considered.

The supplier may well be based outside of the United Kingdom and in the absence of any agreement to the contrary (and only if that agreement itself is valid), you would be faced with having to sue in a foreign country.

There are proposals afoot that claimants can sue in their home courts.

Signatures

Few types of contract actually require a signature. The main examples in English law are contracts for the sale of land and consumer credit contracts. A contract that purports to assign intellectual property rights will also have to be in writing and signed by the assignor.