The concept of ‘directed website’ – a jurisdictional phenomenon clarified? Cross-border consumer and tort victim protection in light of recent ECJ

Abstract

In the beginning of December 2010, the ECJ delivered the much awaited judgment in the joined cases Pammer and Hotel Alpenhof clarifying the erstwhile enigmatic jurisdictional concept of „directing activities‟ with regard to websites offering cross-border goods or services in relation to the consumer protection provisions of the Brussels I Regulation. The same concept of „directing activities‟ is also found in the Rome I Regulation in the sphere of applicable law, which means that the judgment is also important for the purposes of interpretation of the Rome I Regulation. The fact that the judgment was delivered by the Grand Chamber shows that the issue was considered to be of particular importance.