What's New

 
31th seminar was held on April 19, 2025

　

From the Director

 
In recent years, number of consumers have experienced troubles in transactions using digital technologies such as software, games, videos, music, social networking services (SNS), and cloud services (hereinafter referred to as "digital transactions"). In light of this situation, the purpose of the establishment of the Center is to explore the ideal legal framework that takes into account the development of digital industry while at the same time protecting the interests of consumers by conducting comparative studies in cooperation with researchers of Japanese law, EU law and American law.

　

Members

 
Noriko KAWAWA    (Director: Professor, Doshisha University, Faculty of Law）
Keita BABA       (Deputy Director: Professor, Kansai University）
Keiko KANEKO     (Secretariat: JIPDEC visiting researcher)　
Keiko NAGAIWA    (International Secretariat: Associate Professor, Ryukoku University）

(in alphabetical order)
Norikazu ASHINO  (Professor, Senshu University）
Itaru FUKAYA     (Professor, Doshisha Law School）
Takayuki FURUTANI(Professor, Kyoto Sangyo University）
Shuya HAYASHI    (Professor, Nagoya University）
Manako KINOSHITA  (Professor, Doshisha University, Faculty of Law）
Tsuneo MATSUMOTO (Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University）
Eijiro MIZUTANI  (Associate Professor, Keio University)
Takeshi OGATA    (Professor, Gakushuin  University）
Arinobu ONAKA    (Professor, Doshisha Law School）
Seiichiro UEDA   (Professor, Doshisha University, Faculty of Law）

　

Activities

Research Center for Comparative Consumer Law and Policy in the Digital Society 5th Year Anniversary and 31st Seminar International Symposium On Legal Issues in the Digital Society, (April 19, 2025
In cooperation with the European Consumer Law Study Group

《Programme》
Chair: Noriko Kawawa (Doshisha University, Director, Research Center for Comparative Consumer Law and Policy
in the Digital Society)
Presentations in English
Translation provided for comments and questions
１）KEYNOTE SPEECH
Tsuneo Matsumoto (Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University）
REFLECTING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CENTER
Kunihiro Nakata （Professor, Ryukoku University）
IS THE ELECTRONIC CONSUMER TRANSACTIONS ACT NECESSARY?
――CAN THE SPECIFIED COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS LAW PROTECT CONSUMERS IN DIGITAL
PLATFORM TRANSACTIONS?
Video Message：Michele Finck (Professor, Tübingen University)
２）PRESENTATION
PART 1: PRODUCT LIABILITY LAW IN THE DIGITAL SOCIETY
OVERVIEW OF THE PRODUCT LIABILITY ACT IN JAPAN
Yuki Iwasaki (Deputy Director of Consumer Safety Division, Consumer Affairs Agency)
PRODUCT LIABILITY IN AN ERA OF MODERNIZATION: LEGAL PERSPECTIVES AND CHALLENGES
Hardouin Amsler Denogent (Graduate Student, Double Degree Program, University of Zurich, Doshisha University,
Faculty of Law)
A STUDY OF EC PLATFORM LIABILITY - A CASE STUDY OF LIABILITY FOR A FIRE CAUSED BY
PURCHASED PRODUCTS
Naonori Kato（Director/Secretary General, Next Generation Fundamental Policy Research Institute）
PART 2 UNFAIR CONTRACT TERMS
SOME LEGAL ISSUES ON UNFAIR CONTRACT TERMS, EU, JAPAN AND US?
Anne-Lise Sibony (Professor, UCLouvain) & Noriko Kawawa (Professor, Doshisha University)
PART 3 COMPETITION AND REGULATORY POLICY
OVERVIEW OF THE COMPETITION LAW IN THE DIGITAL SOCIETY
Shingo Seryo (Professor, Doshisha University)
3) COMMENTS, Q&A:
Translator: Antonios Karaiskos (Professor, Ryukoku University)

　

Research Workshop : Unfair Terms in Comparative Perspective: EU-US-Japan 30th Seminar organized by the Research Center for Comparative Consumer　Legislation in A Digital Society, (Mar. 25, 2025)

Prof. Anne-Lise Sibony (UC Louvain)
The EU Caselaw on unfair terms: the average consumer revisited?

Prof. Noriko Kawawa (Doshisha University)
Regulation on unfair terms under the Japanese Consumer Contract Act.

Comments: Prof. Tsuneo Matsumoto (Hitotsubashi University, Professor Emeritus)

　

29th Research Workshop, (Mar. 17, 2025)

Chair:  Noriko Kawawa (Doshisha University, Director, Research Center for Comparative Consumer Law and Policy in the Digital Society)

≪Presentation≫
The EU Artificial Intelligence Act: A Regulatory Theory Perspective
Michèle Finck (Professor, Tübingen University)

≪Comments, Q&A≫
Comments:　Shingo Seryo（Professor, Doshisha University）

　

28th Research Workshop, (Nov. 13, 2024)

Seminar: Protection of children and the information in Digital society

1. “business and the right of children”, Prof. Emer. Tsuneo Matsumoto (Hitotsubashi University)
2. “regulation on advertisement and marketing to children, comparing with the ones in Europe and US”, Prof. Noriko Kawawa (Doshisha University)
3. “OECD guidelines”, Shino Uenuma, (Attorney in SLTM Law Office  )
4. “protection of children under the Act on the Protection of Personal Information in Japan, comparing with the ones in Europe and US”, Prof. Kaori Ishii (Chuo University)
5. “Educational data and Act on the Protection of Personal Information”, Prof. Masatomo Suzuki (Niigata University)
6. Discussion

Chair: Prof. Noriko Kawawa (Doshisha University)

　

27th Research Workshop, (Sep. 30, 2024)

International Symposium: Legal Challenges in a Digital Society -Part2
In cooperation with Research Centre For Consumer Law (Forschungsstelle fur Verbraucherrecht, FfV)

1. Consumer protection in the digital Society：Focusing on the state of discussion in Japan 
Associate Prof. Keiko Nagaiwa (Ryukoku University, Research Center for Comparative Consumer Law and Policy inthe Digital Society)
2. Consumer protection when concluding a contract in online marketplaces 
Prof. Dr. Martin Schmidt-Kessel (University of Bayreuth)
3. Comments 
Prof. em.Tsuneo Matsumoto (Hitotsubashi University)
4. Discussion 

Chair: Prof. Noriko Kawawa (Doshisha University)
Translator: Prof. Karaiskos Antonios (Ryukoku University)

　

26th Research Workshop, (Sep. 28, 2024)

International Symposium: Legal Challenges in a Digital Society -Part1
In cooperation with Research Centre For Consumer Law (Forschungsstelle fur Verbraucherrecht, FfV)
In cooperation with The Center for Legal and Political Studies (Senshu University)

1. "Verbraucherdatum bei Vertragsende", Prof. Dr. Martin Schmidt-Kessel (University of Bayreuth)
2. Comments 
Prof. Keita Baba (Kansai University)
3. Discussion 

Chair & Translator: Prof. Norikazu Ashino (Senshu University)

　

25th Research Workshop, (Sep. 20, 2024)

Research Workshop: 
In cooperation with the Digital Law Center

1.	“Comparative Legal Studies Toward the Reconstruction of Contract Law and Consumer Law for Digital Transactions”, Prof. Noriko Kawawa (Doshisha University)
2.	 “Comparative Legal Research on the Protection of Consumers in Digital Transactions in Light of Consumer Vulnerability”, Prof. Emer. Tsuneo Matsumoto (Hitotsubashi University)
3.	 Comments: Prof. Duncan Fairgrieve (PSL University - Université Paris Dauphine)

　

24th Research Workshop, (Apr. 27, 2024)

Seminar:

 1. "Overview of the Product Liability Act in Japan"
Yuki Iwasaki (Deputy Director of Consumer Safety Division, Consumer Affairs Agency)
 2. "Recent Developments in Product Liability in Europe2"
Duncan Fairgrieve KC (Paris-Dauphine University PSL, Senior Research Fellow in Comparative Law at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law in London)

Chair:Noriko Kawawa (Doshisha University)
Translator:Karaiskos Antonios (Ryukoku University)

　

23rd Research Workshop, (Mar. 27, 2024) 

Seminar:
In collaboration with the Court of Justice of the European Union

 1."Biodiversity: How the EU case law protects nature"
Julie BROHÉE (Law clerk at the Court of Justice of the European Union)
 2."Regulating Dark Patterns in Japan"
Prof. Noriko KAWAWA (Doshisha University)
 3."The relationship between the protection of consumers and the environment"
Prof. Elise POILLOT (Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance at Université du Luxembourg)

Coordinator: Judge Paul Nihoul (Court of justice of the European Union)

　

22nd Research Workshop, (Mar. 26, 2024)

International Joint Seminar – Digital Law Center and Centre Perelman
"New challenges for Japan and the European Union"
 
 1.Role of Soft Law for Protecting Consumer Interest in the Digital or AI Society
Tsuneo Matsumoto (Prof. em., Hitotsubashi University, Digital Law Center) 
 2."Regulating Dark Patterns in Japan, The Challenge of Protecting Consumers from Manipulative and Deceptive Practices Online"
Noriko Kawawa (Doshisha University)
 
Discussant: Germain Haumont (lawyer at the Brussels Bar, teaching assistant and researcher in Comparative Law, ULB, and Human Rights, UCLouvain)
Chair: prof. Isabelle Rorive (ULB)

　

21st Research Workshop, (Mar. 9, 2024)

International Seminar:
In collaboration with the research project led by Prof. Emiko Marutyama (JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number　JP) 22H00801)

 1."Japanese Approach to Regulating Dark Patterns"
Noriko KAWAWA (Doshisha University)
 2."Regulation and Soft Law Approach for Protecting Consumer Interest in Digital Society" 
Tsuneo MATSUMOTO (Prof. em. Hitotsubashi University)
 3. "Personalized pricing - Interaction of consumer, competition and information law" 
Emiko Maruyama (Keio University)
 4. "Protecting vulnerable consumers: what does it mean and is it a goal of EU consumer law? "
Prof. Anne-Lise Sibony (UCLouvain)
 3. Comments
Aya Osawa (Hosei University)
Masami Okino (Tokyo University) 
Shoji Kawakami(Prof. em., Tokyo University) 
Fumie Suga (Hosei University) 
Coordinator: Tomohiro Yoshimasa (Kyoto University)

　

20th Research Workshop, (Feb. 19, 2024)

Research Workshop: "Research Workshop on AI Legislation in Japan and the EU"
In collaboration with Tübingen University

 1. "Regulation and Soft Law Approach for Protecting Consumer Interest in the Digital or AI Society"
Tsuneo Matsumoto (Prof. em., Hitotsubashi University)
 2. "Introduction to the EU Artificial Intelligence Act"
Prof. Dr. Michèle Finck (Tübingen University)

　

19th Research Workshop, (Jan. 16, 2024)

Seminar:
In collaboration with the research project led by Prof. Aya Osawa (JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP 24K04621)

Governmental Control in the field of Consumer Contract law
Claire-Marie Péglion-Zika (University of Paris II)

Coordinator: Aya Osawa (Hosei Univ.) 
interpreter: Antonios KARAISKOS (Ryukoku University)

　

18th Research Workshop, (Sep. 11, 2023)

“COMPARATIVE LAW RESEARCH METHODS FOR CONSUMER LEGISLATION IN A DIGITAL SOCIETY”
 International Symposium organized by the Digital Law Center (Doshisha University, Kyoto) and Research Centre For Consumer Law (Univ. of Bayreuth)

Opening: Prof. Dr. Martin Schmidt-Kessel (Universität Bayreuth)
 1. "Comparative Law Research Methods for Consumer Legislation in a Digital Society-Comparative Legal Studies Toward the
Reconstruction of Contract Law and Consumer Law for Digital Transactions”
Prof. Noriko Kawawa (Doshisha University)
 2.“Comparative Law Research Methods for Consumer Legislation in a Digital Society- International Comparative Research on Consumer
Legislation in Digital Society (International Joint Research)”
Prof. Emer. Tsuneo Matsumoto (Hitotsubashi University, Strategic Headquarters for Frontiers of Consumer Policy, Consumer, Affairs Agency, Head of the Research)
 3.“Current State of Research on German Law - “Previous research with a focus on interviews with experts and publication of the results”
Prof. Norikazu Ashino (Senshu University)
4.Comments
Prof. Dr. Martin Schmidt-Kessel (University of Bayreuth)
5.Discussion

　

17th Research Workshop, (Mar. 27, 2023)

International Joint Seminar – Digital Law Center and Centre Perelman
“Crossed Views on the Digital Service Marketplace in Japan and in Europe”

 Opening: Anne WEYEMBERGH(Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Université libre de Bruxelles)
 1.“Role of Consumer Agency in Japan and Comparative Research on Consumer Legislation in a Digital Society project”
 Consumer Affairs Agency in Japan
 2.“Liability of Online Platforms in Japan - First Case Against Amazon Japan G.K. Is the Current Legal System Enough to Protect Consumers from Unsafe Products Sold on Digital Platforms?”
 Noriko KAWAWA (Doshisha University)
 3.“Une analyse comparative du contrat de fourniture de contenus et de services numériques en droit japonais et en droit européen”
 Keita BABA (Kansai University)
 4.“Protecting EU Citizens and Consumers in the Digital Single Market: The Example of the AI Legislation”
 Louise FROMONT (Université libre de Bruxelles)
 5.“Technical Standards as a Tool to Protect Fundamental Rights in the EU Digital Single Market: From the Digital Service Act to the Artificial Intelligence Act”
 Gregory LEWKOWICZ (Université libre de Bruxelles)

　

16th Research Workshop, (Mar. 9, 2023)

International Conference: [Toward] “Crossed Views on the Digital Service Marketplace in Japan and in Europe”

    1.“Role of Consumer Agency in Japan and Comparative Research on Consumer Legislation in a Digital Society project”
    Consumer Affairs Agency in Japan
    2.“Liability of Online Platforms in Japan - First Case Against Amazon Japan G.K. Is the Current Legal System Enough to Protect Consumers from Unsafe Products Sold on Digital Platforms?”
    Noriko KAWAWA (Doshisha University)
    3.“Une analyse comparative du contrat de fourniture de contenus et de services numériques en droit japonais et en droit européen”
    Keita BABA (Kansai University)

　

15th Research Workshop, (Feb. 10 2023)

    1.“Network Neutrality and EU Competition Law: Free Flow of Data and Consumer Protection in the Digital Age” (Tentative)
    Shuya HAYASHI(Nagoya University)
    2.“Platform Governance from the Perspective of Content Moderation” (Tentative)
    Eijiro MIZUTANI (Kansai University)

　

14th Research Workshop, (Sep. 29, 2022)

    1.“Digital Profiling: Challenges for Equal Opportunities in Online Targeted Employment Advertising”
    2.Isabelle RORIVE (President of the Perelman Center – Université libre de Bruxelles)
	
    Interpreter: Antonios KARAISKOS (Kyoto University)

　

13th Research Workshop, (Aug. 28, 2022)

    1.“Comparative law studies on consumer legislation in a digital society, ongoing at the International Consumer Policy Research Center of Consumer Affairs Agency”
    Tsuneo MATSUMOTO (Hitotsubashi University)
    2.“The Initiatives of “the Strategic Headquarters for Frontiers of Consumer Policy of the Consumer Affairs Agency”
    Toshiki YONETA (Strategic Headquarters for Frontiers of Consumer Policy, Consumer
Affairs Agency)
    3.“Implementation of the Digital Contents and Services Directive and Sales of Goods Directive in France”
    Keita BABA (Kansai University)

　

12th Research Workshop, (July 31, 2022)

    1.“A study on consumer transactions mediated by digital platform companies - from the viewpoint of parties in dispute arising from transactions on digital platforms”
    Naonori KATO (Director/Secretary General, General Incorporated Association Next Generation Fundamental Policy Research Institute(NFI))
    2.“Liability of Digital Platform Providers to Consumers for Defective Products Sold by Foreign Sellers in Online Malls: An Introduction to the Latest Court Decisions”
    3.Comments
    Noriko KAWAWA (Doshisha University)
    Shuya HAYASHI (Nagoya University)
    Tsuneo MATSUMOTO (Hitotsubashi University)

　

11th Research Workshop, (June 19, 2022)

    “Consumer Law in the Digital Age”
	
    1.“Basic Concept”
    Yasutaka MACHIMURA (Seijo University)
    2.“Consumer Vulnerability in the Digital Society: Perspectives Toward Understanding the Concept of ‘Digital Vulnerability’”
    Noriko KAWAWA (Doshisha University)
    3.“The Actual Situation and Problems of Electronic Fraud in Digital Network Society”
    Masahiro SAITO (Tokyo Bar Association)
    4.“A Study on the Solicitation of the Contract in the Electronic Commerce”
    Koji KUBO (Iwate Prefectural University)
    5. “Consumers' Personal Data and Privacy Protection from Digital Advertising”
    Miho KAMITSUKUE (Tokyo Keizai University)
    6.“Consumer Protection in Cashless Payments: Recent Amendments and Remaining Issues”
    Hironao KANEKO (Tokyo Institute of Technology)
    7.“Digital Means to Protect Consumers”
    Yasutaka MACHIMURA (Seijo University)

　

[Back number of Activities]

　

Links

 
Web site of Prof. Isabelle Rorive, ULB