The Russian Supreme Court ruled that marketplaces can be held liable… (продавец · маркетплейс · потребитель)
The Russian Supreme Court ruled that marketplaces can be held liable for consumer losses caused by providing incomplete or inaccurate information about a product or seller, reversing lower courts' decisions in a case involving a defective gasoline-powered surfboard purchased online. The case centered on a buyer from Krasnodar Krai who claimed he could not access essential seller details due to language barriers.
Consensus
- The Russian Supreme Court ruled that marketplaces can be held responsible for consumer losses resulting from incomplete or inaccurate information about products or sellers.
- A buyer from Krasnodar Krai purchased a gasoline-powered surfboard online and found it to have a defective engine.
- The buyer sued the marketplace for reimbursement, citing lack of complete and accurate seller information.
- Lower courts initially ruled in favor of the buyer but were later overturned by appellate and cassation courts.
- The Supreme Court sent the case back for retrial, affirming that marketplaces must provide full and truthful information to consumers.
- Information about the seller was available only in English and Chinese, which hindered the consumer's ability to obtain necessary details.
Points of divergence
- The number of lawsuits against major Russian marketplaces has increased dramatically over the past 2.5 years; for example, Ozon faced a 198% increase in claims from January 2024 to June 2026 compared to previous years. — vedomosti
Coverage (2 sources)
- Supreme Court Confirms Marketplaces' Liability for Product Information — Ведомости
- The Supreme Court holds the marketplace responsible for failing to provide complete information about the seller — Интерфакс