Digital platforms as a type of economic market relations and the reflection of this aspect in the legal regime of digital platforms

Abstract

The article analyzes the characteristics of a digital platform as a type of economic market relations, identifies those that have legal significance, and models a system of elements of the national legal regime of digital platforms in Russia that reflect these characteristics. The research methodology is based on the fact that the digital platform has different aspects of understanding. The article provides an analysis of the economic understanding of the digital platform, which is also not unambiguous: the platform is studied as a type of economic relations. Based on the analysis, conclusions are drawn about the main characteristics of the platform economy, which have legal significance. Further, the legal model of these characteristics is formulated. The scientific novelty is in the modelling of the national legal regime of digital platforms in Russia based on the analysis of the digital platform as a type of economic relations, as well as in specific conclusions regarding the legal significance of the characteristics of digital platforms: a system of contractual relations that develop on the digital platform is built, depending on the participants in the relationship and the function contracts; the presumption of the legal regime of the accession agreement for agreements concluded between users and the platform operator is proposed; it is proposed to introduce into the legal mode of the digital platform the right of the operator to declare the platform open or closed; if the platform operator declares it open, the contracts concluded with him should be subject to the regime of public contracts, which should be specified in the legislation; it is necessary to include in the legal regime of digital platforms the norms on categories of consumers for which other conditions of a public contract can be determined, taking into account their economic loyalty and other factors justified from an economic and social standpoint; the relationship between the platform operator and its users may be mediated by contracts for the provision of services free of charge, which should not deprive the user of the legal status of a consumer.