Draft ruling on e-commerce unveiled by Supreme People's Court

A draft judicial interpretation on handling disputes involving internet-related consumption was unveiled by the Supreme People's Court, China's top court, on Monday for public comment.

The draft focuses on several hot issues in cyberspace, including live-streaming selling, the most typical feature of the livestreaming economy, as well as ordering food online and false promotions.

For example, it stipulates operators of livestreaming platforms should take responsibility to review whether livestreamers who sell food are qualified or licensed.

If consumers initiate lawsuits against the platforms after their rights are damaged due to supervision loopholes in the platforms, courts will support the consumers.

If e-commerce operators sign contracts with someone, asking him or her to help make fake online views of goods or fabricate consumers' comments on the products, the contracts will be identified invalid by courts.

The top court has disclosed the document on its official website, People's Court Daily and WeChat account of its No 1 Civil Division, welcoming opinions from all sectors of society.

It also opened its workplace e-mail addresses, adding opinion collection will end on Jan 7.