§ 14. Requirements for contracts in online shopping
When you buy online, by phone or through other channels where you do not meet in person, the information from § 8 must be part of the contract itself. It must be available in plain and understandable language, adapted to the channel, and easy to read.
Machine-translated from Norwegian. The Norwegian text is the one that applies. Read the original in Norwegian.Norsk English العربية Polski Українська
The text of the law (unofficial translation)
Contracts concluded by distance selling (fjernsalg) shall contain the information set out in § 8 first paragraph, or the information shall be made available to the consumer (forbruker) in plain and understandable language in a manner adapted to the means of distance communication. The information shall be regarded as part of the contract and shall not be changed unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. If the information is provided on a durable medium (varig medium), it shall be easily legible.
What does this mean?
§ 14 does for online sales what § 11 does for doorstep sales: it requires all the information from § 8 — price, right of withdrawal (angrerett), return costs (returkostnader), contact details and the rest — to be part of the contract.
Three practical requirements:
1. The information is part of the contract. This means it is binding. The seller cannot show one price in the order and charge another on the invoice. They cannot change the terms after the contract has been concluded unless you expressly agree otherwise.
2. Adapted to the communication channel. The rules are slightly more flexible than for doorstep sales. The seller does not necessarily have to send you a long contract — the information can be available on the website, as long as it is clear and easy to find. A link to "terms" must not be hidden at the bottom of the page.
3. Plain language. The information must be in "plain and understandable language". If you need a law degree to understand the terms, the seller does not meet the requirement.
And if the information is provided on a durable medium (typically a confirmation email), it must be "easily legible". This means no microscopic text or hidden paragraphs.
The difference from § 11 is that simpler forms are accepted here — you do not necessarily have to get a signed contract. But the seller still has a duty under § 18 to send a written confirmation afterwards.
Examples
Sara buys a chair from a Norwegian online shop for NOK 3,200. On the order page she sees a link called "Terms and right of withdrawal". She clicks it and finds a clear page with all the information about price, shipping, right of withdrawal, return costs and contact details. This meets § 14. The information is clear, available and adapted to online communication. When Sara completes the order, the terms become part of the contract — the seller cannot change them unilaterally.
Tom buys a subscription (abonnement) to a streaming service. The terms show NOK 99 per month. Three months later he gets an invoice for NOK 149. The seller explains that "the price was adjusted". Under § 14, the original price is part of the contract. The seller cannot change it without Tom's express consent (uttrykkelig samtykke). Tom can demand that the original price applies, or cancel the subscription at no cost.
Common mistakes
- You think "terms are terms" — that the seller can change them as they like. They cannot. The terms are part of the binding contract.
- You think the website is always enough. It is enough when ordering — but afterwards you must receive a written confirmation on a durable medium (§ 18). The website alone is not sufficient if the seller later changes it.
- You think "adapted" means "shorter". That is a misunderstanding. Adapted communication means the information must be easily available and understandable — not that parts can be left out.
What should you do?
When shopping online:
- Check that the terms are easy to find before you complete the purchase
- Save or take a screenshot of the terms that apply at the time of purchase
- When the confirmation email arrives, check that the terms from the order are included
- If the seller later changes the price or terms, refer to § 14 and demand that the original terms apply
- § 8What the seller must tell you before the purchase
- § 11Corresponding rule for doorstep sales
- § 15Simplified rule when space is limited
- § 18Confirmation of the concluded contract