- China launched the world’s first internet court to handle disputes
- The court will focus on trade disputes and copyright lawsuits
- China is home to some 731 million internet users, the largest market in the world
China has launched its first ‘cyber court’ today in a bid to keep up with the number of mobile payment and e-commerce disputes.
Residents of Hangzhou can register their complaints online and log onto their trial via videochat.
China is home to 731 million internet users making it the world’s largest internet market.
China’s first “cyber court” was launched on Friday to settle online disputes, as the legal system attempts to keep up with the explosion of mobile payment and e-commerce
View of an online hearing of an internet-related case at Hangzhou Court of the Internet
The court will handle cases such as online trade disputes, copyright lawsuits and product liability claims for online purchases.
Du Qian, the cyber court chief justice said:’The cyber court will offer regular people an efficient, low-cost solution to these new kinds of disputes that take place on the internet.
‘Not only will this make lawsuits as convenient as online shopping, but it will also give online shopping the same degree of judicial protection as consumption at brick-and-mortar stores.’
Chinese judges swear in at Hangzhou Court of the Internet, the first internet court in the world
Chinese officials applaud after unveiling the nameplate of Hangzhou Court
For China’s 731 million internet users, e-commerce is a vital part of the government’s efforts to turn China into a consumer demand-driven economy.
E-commerce website Alibaba has its busiest day of the year on November 11. Last year consumers spent $17.8 billion (£13.8 billion) in just 24 hours, more than five times the five-day desktop sales from Thanksgiving until Cyber Monday in the US last year.