Final answer:
Calling a click-through agreement a "contract of adhesion" means the consumer faces a "take-it-or-leave-it" situation with little ability to negotiate terms. The term refers to the power imbalance and non-negotiable basis of such contracts. So, the correct answer is option a.
Step-by-step explanation:
To call a click-through agreement a "contract of adhesion" means option A: One party is forced into a "take-it-or-leave-it" situation. In the context of click-through agreements, which are common in software installations, app downloads, and online services, this refers to contracts that are presented by one party (typically the company offering the service or product) to another (the consumer) on a standard, non-negotiable basis.
The consumer has little or no ability to negotiate the terms and must either accept the contract in its entirety or reject the service by refusing to agree. A contract of adhesion does not imply that one party is forced into using the service after agreeing, which would suggest a lack of freedom in the decision to use the service.
Nor does it suggest that both parties are equally responsible for ensuring the agreement is adhered to; in practice, it often means that the drafting party has set the terms to its advantage. While it is true that both parties are legally bound by the agreement, the defining feature of a contract of adhesion is the imbalance of power and lack of negotiation in forming the contract.