This seminar will focus on consumer protection law. We will examine several regulatory strategies for protecting consumers, including restrictions on advertising, warning labels, prohibitions on misleading sales practices, human rights codes, mandatory disclosure, and consumer education. We will explore how these strategies could address contemporary problems, such as algorithmic pricing, `buy now, pay later' credit products, online sports-betting and the subscription business model. We will begin with a discussion of foundational issues, such as who counts as a consumer. We will conclude with a conversation about consumerism and consumer activism and their impact on society and law. This will be a highly interactive discussion-based seminar course with one or two small pass/fail assignments near the beginning of the term and a final research paper. This course will build on some of the principles and doctrines covered in first-year Contracts. No other background or pre-requisite course is required. There is no textbook for this course. Mandatory readings will be posted to the course website in an accessible format.
This seminar will focus on consumer protection law. We will examine several regulatory strategies for protecting consumers, including restrictions on advertising, warning labels, prohibitions on misleading sales practices, human rights codes, mandatory disclosure, and consumer education. We will explore how these strategies could address contemporary problems, such as algorithmic pricing, `buy now, pay later' credit products, online sports-betting and the subscription business model. We will begin with a discussion of foundational issues, such as who counts as a consumer. We will conclude with a conversation about consumerism and consumer activism and their impact on society and law. This will be a highly interactive discussion-based seminar course with one or two small pass/fail assignments near the beginning of the term and a final research paper. This course will build on some of the principles and doctrines covered in first-year Contracts. No other background or pre-requisite course is required. There is no textbook for this course. Mandatory readings will be posted to the course website in an accessible format.
