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AMENTIONONAWEBSITEMAYSUFFICETONOTIFYAPARTYTOANADHESION
CONTRACTOFAMENDMENTSTOSUCHCONTRACT
MarcelNaud*
LEGERROBICRICHARD,Lawyers,
ROBIC,Patent&TrademarkAgents
CentreCDPCapital
1001Square-Victoria-BlocE–8
thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.:(514)9876242-Fax:(514)8457874
info@robic.com–www.robic.ca
CASEREPORTCANADA
Kanitzv.RogersCableInc.[2002]O.J.No.665(OntSupCt)
Facts
Inthiscase,theplaintiffs,whofiledaclassactionbeforetheOntarioSuperior
CourtofJustice,wereallegingthatthedefendant’shigh-speedInternet
accessservicewasnotcontinuallyavailableorintermittentlyavailableor
undulyslowandthatdefendantwasnonethelesscollectingpaymentsoffees
fortheservicewithoutdeduction.Thedefendant,aproviderofcable
services,wasseekingamotiontostaythatclassactiononthegroundthat
anyclaimshouldbedealtwithonlybyarbitration,asperanamendmentto
itsuseragreementaddinganarbitrationclausethereto.
Theinitialagreement,executedbyusersuponsubscriptiontodefendant’s
services,providedthatdefendantcouldamendanyportionsoftheuser
agreementandthatnotificationofamendmentswouldbemadetouserby
postingnoticesonthedefendant’swebsiteorbysendingnoticesviaemailor
postalmail.
Theaddedarbitrationclauseprovidedthatanyclaimarisingoutofthe
relationshipbetweenthedefendantandtheuserswouldbereferredtoand
determinedbyarbitration,totheexclusionofthecourts.Thisarbitrationclause
alsoincludedawaiverofanyrighttocommenceorparticipateinaclass
actionagainstthedefendant.