Amazon updates Conditions of Use, swaps arbitration for court resolution
We wanted to let you know that we recently updated our Conditions of Use.
One of our updates involves how disputes are resolved between you and Amazon. Previously, our Conditions of Use set out an arbitration process for those disputes. Our updated Conditions of Use provides for dispute resolution by the courts.
Please visit https://www.amazon.com/conditionsofuse to read our updated terms in full.
As always, your use of any Amazon service constitutes your agreement to our Conditions of Use.
Thank you,
Amazon
Did anyone know this was coming? This seems to be a big deal.
The relevant terms from the actual Conditions of Use:
DISPUTES
Any dispute or claim relating in any way to your use of any Amazon Service will be adjudicated in the state or Federal courts in King County, Washington, and you consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in these courts. We each waive any right to a jury trial.
Is that legal for a terms of service to dictate what court hears a case? Can Amazon unilaterally prevent jury trials? This seems insane to me.