The Internet of Things as an emerging global Internet-based information archit- ture facilitating the exchange of goods and services is gradually developing. While the technology of the Internet of Things is still being discussed and created, the legal framework should be established before the Internet of Things is fully operable, in order to allow for an efective introduction of the new information architecture. If a self-regulatory approach is to be adopted to provide a legal framework for the Internet of Things, and this seems preferable, rulemakers can draw on experiences from the current regime of Internet governance. In the near future, mainly businesses will operate in the Internet of Things. Civil society is only expected to make use of the Internet of Things, as it now does of the Internet, at a later stage (e.g. for healthcare). The Internet of Things will have an impact in various areas. The regulatory fra- work must provide for provisions ensuring the security of the structure as well as the privacy of its users. Furthermore, legal barriers that may stand in the way of the coming into operation of the Internet of Things will have to be considered. However, the Internet of Things will also have positive efects in diferent felds, such as the inclusion of developing countries in global trade, the use of search engines to the beneft of civil society, combating product counterfeiting, tackling environmental concerns, improving health conditions, securing food supply and monitoring compliance with labor standards.

The Internet of Things as an emerging global Internet-based information architecture facilitating the exchange of goods and services is gradually developing. While the technology of the Internet of Things is still being dis-cussed and created, the legal framework should be established before the Internet of Things is fully operable, in order to allow for an effective introduction of the new information architecture. The regulatory framework must provide for provisions ensuring the security of the structure as well as the privacy of its users. Furthermore, legal barriers that may stand in the way of the coming into operation of the Internet of Things are to be considered. The Internet of Things has positive effects in different fields, such as the inclusion of developing countries in global trade and the use of search engines to the benefit of civil society.

The information society is a key issue in everyday life and a phenomenon enc- passing social, cultural, economic, and legal facettes. Currently, an information society’s legal framework is gradually crystallizing under the newly introduced term of “Internet governance”. During the last few years, intensive discussions about the contents of Internet governance have addressed manifold aspects of a possible regulatory regime. In light of the general comprehension that an international treaty structure is mi- ing and that self-regulation as a normative model does not sufce in all respects, new architectural and constitutional theories have been developed; furthermore, the international body of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) came to life. N- withstanding the available literature on IGF, however, a thorough and systematic study sheding light on the main topics of Internet governance (such as legitimacy, transparency, accountability, and participation) and on the key regulatory issues (for example critical Internet resources, access, protection of civil liberties/- man rights, realization of security, safety and privacy standards, as well as the overcoming of the digital divide) from a legal perspective is not yet at hand. The present publication aims at discussing these legal challenges. This book has benefted from many inputs and encouragements from colleagues that I am deeply grateful for. In particular, I am indebted to the very meaningful discussions and valuable support in the preparation of the publication by my - search assistants lic. iur Mirin . a Grosz and lic. iurR . omana Weber, to lic. iur.

The civil society is concerned by decisions taken in the context of the Internet. Netizens should therefore also be able to express their opinions and participate in decision-making processes. Since the right to freedom of expression is relevant in all policy matters, opportunities are to be created for the civil society to actually express its view. The heterogeneity of Internet users originating from different geographical zones, linguistic areas, and cultural backgrounds leads to very different conceptions related to the organization of the Internet. However, decisions need to be supported by a large part of the Internet community in order to ensure its effective functioning. By introducing participation possibilities for the civil society enhancing accountability, stability, and sustainability of the Internet community, integration and harmonization of netizens will be increased. Furthermore, the enhancement of information flows between the members of the civil society, based on adequate information provided for by the governing body, which allows the public to form an opinion and participate in negotiations, and the effective bridging of information asymmetries can help to avoid arbitrary or discriminatory decisions because an informed civil society is able to brand such behavior. By realizing transparency about decision-making processes and by letting the public participate in these processes, active involvement of the civil society can be encouraged. Therefore, efforts should be undertaken to look for a method of consensus building which includes all interested parties and creates the opportunity to make decisions acceptable for as large a part of the civil community as possible. Notwithstanding the fact that the Internet society is a newly emerging civil society, considerations taken into account in earlier contexts can lead to valuable lessons. In this respect, a theory which seems to offer a feasible approach encompasses the concept of a so-called “social contract” that is historically and philosophically addressing issues of the civil society's participation.

Bisherige Forschung hat gezeigt, dass der "Choice Overload" und auch Self-Service-Technologien in den letzten Jahrzehnten intensiv, jedoch separat voneinander studiert wurden. Daher ist es das Ziel dieser Arbeit, die Auswirkungen von IT-gestützten Verkaufshilfen (Self-Service-Technologien) auf die Effekte des "Choice Overload" nämlich "Choice Satisfaction", "Choice Difficulty" und "Choice Confusion" am Beispiel einer Sortimentsreduktion von Mobilfunkgeräten zu untersuchen. Es soll herausgefunden werden ob mit Einsatz des IWT (IT-gestützte Verkaufshilfe) ein "Choice Overload" nachgewiesen werden kann, oder ob es dem IWT gelingt den "Choice Overload" und die damit einhergehenden Effekte zu reduzieren. Die Studie zeigt, dass auch mit Einsatz des IWT ein "Choice Overload" auftritt, der IWT es aber vermag die negativen Effekte des "Choice Overload" auf die "Choice Satisfaction" und die "Choice Difficulty" zu egalisieren. Der IWT ist demnach ein einfacher Weg dem "Choice Overload" entgegen zu wirken. Ihm gelingt es die Konsumentenzufriedenheit zu stärken und die Schwierigkeiten bei der Wahl eines Smartphones zu senken.

Die Arbeit befasst sich mit dem Aufbau von Kundeninspiration am Point-of-Sale. Aufgrund verändertem Konsumverhalten, den zunehmenden Spontan- und Erlebniskäufen und der abnehmenden Einkaufsloyalität, sieht sich der stationäre Handel gezwungen, sein Angebot zu überdenken und mit neuen, inspirierenden Konzepten den Konsumenten für sich zu gewinnen. Mittels einer Fallstudienanalyse wird in der vorliegenden Arbeit das Konzept der Kundeninspiration auf die in der Kaufphase wirkenden Marketing-Stimuli von fünf Unternehmen des Bekleidungsdetailhandels untersucht. Diese sind: Vögele, C&A, H&M, Zara und Desigual. Als die drei wichtigsten Inspirationsquellen wurden das Sortiment, das Ladenlayout und die Warenpräsentation erkannt. Diese Inspirationsquellen sind es, die den Kunden neue Ideen geben und ihn zu Zusatzkäufen motivieren. Zudem scheint, dass sich Konsumenten jeden Alters inspirieren lassen. Die erfolgreichen Unternehmen haben sich mit gezielt aufeinander abgestimmten Inspirationsmassnahmen und einer starken Verankerung in deren Strategie ein einzigartiges Image aufgebaut. In Zukunft verlangt der rasante technologische Fortschritt von den Unternehmen eine rasche Anpassung aller Marketing-Stimuli.