电商平台单方变更合同的权利及其规制

The Rights of E-Commerce Platforms to Unilaterally Modify Contracts and Their Regulation

摘要: 电商平台单方更改服务协议具有普遍性、频繁性，但只有影响到给付义务以及相对人重要权益的更改才属于合同变更，为适应技术革新、履行法律义务的常态化更新通常不属于单方变更合同。从《电子商务法》第34条中无法解释出电商平台享有法定的单方变更权，赋予电商平台此种权利也不利于利益之平衡，唯有约定的单方变更权才为法秩序认可。数字经济背景下，电商平台使用的单方变更权条款存在相对人知情权缺乏充分保障、约定过于宽泛模糊的问题。为避免电商平台滥用自身优势地位，以便保护相对人权益，必须对电商平台使用的单方变更权条款进行严格把控。电商平台应以单独弹窗的形式取得同意，并就变更的合理性进行充分的说明。

Abstract: Unilateral changes to service agreements on e-commerce platforms are common and frequent, but only changes that affect payment obligations and significant rights of the parties involved constitute contract modifications. Routine updates to adapt to technological advancements and comply with legal obligations typically do not fall under unilateral contract changes. Article 34 of the E-commerce Law does not explicitly grant e-commerce platforms the unilateral right to modify contracts. Granting such a right would upset the balance of interests and only unilateral modification rights agreed upon by both parties are legally recognized. In the context of the digital economy, clauses granting unilateral modification rights used by e-commerce platforms lack sufficient safeguards for the awareness of the parties involved and are often too broadly defined. To prevent e-commerce platforms from abusing their dominant position and to protect the rights of the parties involved, strict control must be exercised over the clauses granting unilateral modification rights used by e-commerce platforms. E-commerce platforms should obtain consent through separate pop-up windows and provide full explanations of the reasonableness of the changes.