The US Department of Commeerce defines it as:
"... e-commerce is the online transaction of business, featuring linked computer systems of the vendor, host, and buyer. Electronic transactions involve the transfer of ownership or rights to use a good or service."
E-commerce occurs over the Internet. Most transactions require that the buyer adhere to a form contract where the buyer cannot so much as change a comma: the contract is presented as two buttons: either I AGREE or I DON'T AGREE, the latter terminating the negotiations.
It is standard as well for the seller to impose a jurisdiction in their online e-commerce form contract, and also a mandatory alternative dispute resolution forum in the event of a dispute.
REFERENCES:
- Electronic Commerce Act, 2000, Statues of Ontario, 2000, Chapter 17
- Electronic Commerce and Information Act, Continuing Consolidated Statutes of Manitoba, Chapter E55
- Electronic Transactions Act, Statutes of Alberta 2001, Chapter E-5.5
- Electronic Transactions Act, Statutes of British Columbia 2001, Chapter 10