FGV Press launches “Lawtechs and Consumers” in partnership with FGV Rio de Janeiro Law School

FGV Press is launching the book “Lawtechs e o Consumer” (“Lawtechs and Consumers”), written by FGV Rio de Janeiro Law School professors Rio Rafaela Nogueira, Paulo Fernando de Mello Franco and Antônio José Maristrello Porto, the school’s vice dean. The book came about after the authors realized the need to learn to deal with excessive consumer litigation in the Brazilian courts. They also wanted to learn how the high cost of lawsuits imposes tragic dilemmas and choices for society.

Through economic analysis of law, the book discusses and reflects on how the use of technology linked to law can contribute to greater efficiency in the courts, without harming consumers either procedurally or materially.

In the current context of industry 4.0, the most valuable companies in the world are those that operate with technology. This is due to a clear change in market trends and disruptive technological innovations. For example, the world’s largest passenger transport company does not own any cars, the most used digital media platform does not create any content, the most valuable retailer in the world has no inventory, and one of the largest accommodation providers in the world has no properties. In this context of fierce competition, incentives are created for companies to seek to resolve disputes within their own digital dispute resolution platforms.

The book’s authors recognize the importance of fundamental guarantees or rights and they recognize that new means of alternative conflict resolution may threaten accessibility to the courts. This is precisely the point of the book, as the Constitution guarantees access to justice, but not to the judiciary. Access to justice can happen outside the courts, even though some people may not realize this.

The book has a preface written by Luciano Benetti Timm, a professor at the FGV Sao Paulo Law School and Unisinos in Rio Grande do Sul, as well as national consumer secretary at the Justice Ministry. The introduction is by Bruno Miragem, a professor at Rio Grande do Sul Federal University’s Law School.

For more information about the book, click here.