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ARTICLE · 12 MARCH 2021

Online E-commerce Platform Not Required To Provide Services To Retailer Of Products Promoting Hate Or Violence

Gardiner Roberts LLP
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The Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed an injunction sought by an online retainer against an e-commerce platform which refused to allow it to carry on business selling objectionable...

CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
James R.G. Cook
James R.G. Cook
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The Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed an injunction sought by an online retainer against an e-commerce platform which refused to allow it to carry on business selling objectionable products: RageOn Inc. v. Shopify Inc.,  2021 ONSC 1456 (CanLII).

The customer, RageOn Inc., is an online business of "user-generated" products, which allows third party users to upload and offer for sale clothing and other products bearing their own prints and designs. RageOn does not create images or designs itself. Rather, customers select artwork uploaded by other users. A third party manufacturer then produces the product and ships it to the customer.

Since 2013, RageOn operated its business through Shopify Inc., the Canadian-based online e-commerce platform which provides merchants with the tools and technology to set up online stores and sell their products and services. Shopify has over a million merchants using its services.

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