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Dive deep into the study of European Sales Law, legal transplants, convergence, and application of comparative methods in private law and contract law. Explore liability, remedies, and more with updated reading resources and web links for comprehensive learning.
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Professor Mads AndenæsJUS5240/JUR1240 Comparative Private Law
Going over outline and reading, once again • Any questions? • Next lecture: 09 October12 NOTE: NO LECTURES 12, 18, or 25 September
Lecture Outline Autumn 2011 1. Introduction 2. The proposal for a common European sales law 3. Overview of the topics of the course. Placing the proposal for a common European sales law and the DCFR in an international perspective. 4. The discipline of comparative law. Legal transplants and convergence of legal families
Lecture Outline Autumn 2011 5. European Contract Law and international contract law conventions 6. Applying comparative method in private law and contract law in particular. 7. Formation of contracts. 8. Interpretation, Reasonableness, Good faith. 9. Liability and other Remedies.
Updated reading list (on the web site) With web links and other features that may be helpful. • Moss, G.C.: Lectures on Comparative Law (160 pages) (to be found in the bookstore Akademika published in "Stensilserien for Institutt for Privatrett-nr 166 IfP " and • http://folk.uio.no/giudittm/PCL_Vol15_3%5B1%5D.pdf • M Andenas and D Fairgrieve, ‘There is A World Elsewhere’ — Lord Bingham and Comparative Law in M Andenas and D Fairgrieve (eds) Tom Bingham and the Transformation of the Law (Oxford University Press 2009), 402 (Available as ebook from the University Library by using "BIBSYS ASK" online-system and on http://works.bepress.com/mads_andenas/5/) • Sacco, R.: Legal Formants: A Dynamic Approach to Comparative Law, in 39 American Journal of Comparative Law (1991), pages 1-34,343-402 (Available from the University Library by using "BIBSYS ASK" online-system) • Sacco, R.: One Hundred Years of Comparative Law, in 75 Tulane Law Review (2001) 1159-1176 (Available from the University Library by using "BIBSYS ASK" online-system)
Updated reading list • Sir Basil Markesinis, JørgFedtke, Engaging With Foreign Law (Hart Publishing, Oxford 2009, Comparative Law in Commercial Practice, Ch 10, ISBN-10: 1841139475) p 323-350 (Available as ebook from the University Library by using "BIBSYS ASK" online-system). • Moss, G.C.: International Commercial Law, Institute of Private Law, Oslo 2010, pages 101-205 (to be found in the bookstore Akademika published in "Stensilserien for Institutt for Privatrett"/"copy series from the Institute of Private Law" no 185) • Kåre Lilleholt, «European Private Law: Unification, Harmonisation or Coordination», i Roger Brownsword, Hans-W. Micklitz, Leone Niglia and Stephen Weatherill (eds.), The Foundations of European Private Law, Oxford 2011, s. 353–361. • Hans-W. Micklitz and Norbert Reich ’The Commission Proposal for a “Regulationon a Common European SalesLaw (CESL)” – TooBroad or NotBroadEnough?’, EUI Working Paper LAW 2012/04. http://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/20485/LAW_2012_04_ERPL_03.pdf?sequence=3 and VI) and C (ca 430 pages).
Supplementary reading • Principles, Definitions and Model Rules of European Private Law, Draft Common Frame of Reference, DCFRSee also: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/policies/civil/policiescivilintro_en.htm • Proposal for EU Regulation on Common sales law with other materials on http://ec.europa.eu/justice/newsroom/news/20111011_en.htm • The EU Consumer Rights Directive, http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/11/pe00/pe00026.en11.pdf • Sir Basil Markesinis, Jørg Fedtke, Engaging With Foreign Law (Hart Publishing, Oxford 2009, ISBN-10: 1841139475). (Available as ebook from the University Library by using "BIBSYS ASK" online-system)C (ca 430 pages).
Supplementary reading • Moss, G.C.: Contract or Licence? Regulation of Petroleum Investment in Russia and Foreign legal Advice, in Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, 1998, pages 186-199 • Moss, G.C.: INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTS BETWEEN COMMON LAW AND CIVIL LAW: IS NON-STATE LAW TO BE PREFERRED? THE DIFFICULTY OF INTERPRETING LEGAL STANDARDS SUCH AS GOOD FAITH, Global Jurist: Vol. 7: Iss. 1 (Advances), Article 3 pp.1-38 • Gordley, J., Von Mehren, A., An introduction to the comparative study of private law, Cambridge University Press, 2006. • Tetley, W.: Mixed Jurisdictions: Common Laws vs. Civil Law (Codified and Uncodified), part I and part II, (56 pages)http://www.mcgill.ca/maritimelaw/comparative/mixedjur-1/http://www.mcgill.ca/maritimelaw/comparative/mixedjur-2/ • Joint network on European Private Law, with further links: http://www.copecl.org • Schulze, R. (ed), “New Features in Contract Law”, Sellier European Law Publishers, 2007
Supplementary reading • Introduction to the Principles of European Contract Law, with further bibliographic references:http://www.cisg.law.pace.edu/cisg/text/peclintro.html • UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts, with further bibliographic references:http://www.unidroit.org/english/principles/contracts/main.htm • Vogenauer, S., Weatherill, S., The Harmonisation of European Contract Law, Studies of the Oxford Institute of European and Comparative Law, 2006 • Wilhelmsson, T., Paunio, E., Pohjolainen, A. (eds), “Private Law and the Many Cultures of Europe”, Kluwer Law International, 2007 • Zimmermann, M., Reimann, The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Law, Oxford University Press, 2006 • Zweigert, K. and H. Kötz: Introduction to Comparative Law, 3rd ed Clarendon Press, Oxford 1998: Parts B (except chapter V and VI) and C (ca 430 pages).
The main topics: 2. The proposal for a common European sales law • The European Commission proposal for a Regulation on a Common European Sales Law (COM(2011) 635 final). • Background and reactions • ‘Legal base’ in the EU • The Internal Market, consumers, business and contract law
3. Overview of the topics of the course. Placing the proposal for a common European sales law and the DCFR in an international perspective. Follow up from first lecture and Professor Lilleholt’slectureon European Sales Law.
4. The discipline of comparative law. Legal transplants and convergence of legal families. What is comparative law and what functions may it serve? Law making: legislation, case law Understanding law and legal rules The normative and the factual, effects and context Legal transplants Legal families Convergence of legal families
5. European Contract Law and international contract law conventions Return to the conventions, model laws, EU legislation, and different iniatives. What do they cover or let out? Some differences between international and EU instruments: the international focus on the commercial/professional EU law on consumer protection Conventions optional/declaratory/derogable (freedom of contract), EU directives mandatory
6. Applying comparative method in private law and contract law in particular. The role of comparative law and method in private law Contract law: commercial and consumer law The autonomy of the national
7. Formation of contracts. 8. Interpretation, Reasonableness, Good faith. 9. Liability and other Remedies.
7. Formation of contracts. Offer, accept, binding contract Do offers bind, is ’consideration’ required? To what extent is a universal model found in the conventions and model laws? EU law and the formation of contracts.
8. Interpretation, Reasonableness, Good faith. Interpretation in different national traditions. The role of reasonableness and good faith.
Reading for the next lecture: 4. The discipline of comparative law. Legal transplants and convergence of legal families: Moss, G.C.: International Commercial Law or Lectures on Comparative Law M Andenas and D Fairgrieve, ‘There is A World Elsewhere’ (Available as ebook) Sir Basil Markesinis, JørgFedtke, Engaging With Foreign Law (Hart Publishing, Oxford 2009, Comparative Law in Commercial Practice, Ch 10, ISBN-10: 1841139475) p 323-350
Placing the proposal for a common European sales law and the DCFR in an international perspective
A Common European Sales Law? • Proposal for regulation: COM(2011) 635 final • An optional “2nd regime” for cross-border contracts • Scope: sales of goods, supply of digital content, related services • Relevance for comparative law
Contract law in Europe • Varies from country to country • Private international law • Uniform law • CISG • EU legislation, minimum harmonisation, total harmonisation • Model laws etc.: UNIDROIT Principles, PECL, DCFR
The process up to CESL • The Commission’s Action Plan (2003) • CoPECL Network (2005) • Draft Common Frame of Reference (2009) • Study Group on a European Civil Code • Acquis Group • French texts on terminology and principles (2008) • Feasibility Study (2011) • CESL (2011)
The DCFR • Black letter rules • Comments • Comparative notes
Contents DCFR • Book I General provisions • Book II Contracts and other juridical acts • Book III Obligations and corresponding rights • Book IV Specific contracts and the rights and obligations arising from them • Book V Benevolent intervention in another’s affairs
Contents DCFR (ctd.) • Book VINon-contractual liability arising out of damage caused to another • Book VIIUnjustified enrichment • Book VIII Acquisition and loss of ownership in movables • Book IX Proprietary security rights in movable assets • Book XTrusts
EU legislation on contracts • Primarily on consumer contracts • Most recent: Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83) • deadline 13 December 2012 • contracts concluded after 13 June 2014
CESL – a second regime German law Norwegian law Existinglaw CESL Existinglaw CESL French law Existinglaw CESL
Application of CESL • Chosen by the parties • Cross-border contract (unless otherwise decided) • At least one party in a Member State • Contract for the sale of goods, for the supply of digital content, related services • Trader and consumer or SMB (unless otherwise decided)
Recourse to other law? • Autonomous interpretation • Issues with the scope of CESL must be settled without recourse to national law
Content of CESL • Making a binding contract • Interpretation • Obligations and remedies • Damages and interest • Restitution • Prescription
Conclusion of contract • Definition of contract • Offer and acceptance • Right to withdraw • Defects in consent
Voidability due to mistake • Article 48 • Inaccuracy in communication
Interpretation • Common intention • Particular meaning known to the other party • Meaning that a reasonable person would give to it • Relevant matters • circumstances • practices • good faith and fair dealing
DCFR, CESL and the Common Law DCFR Relationship to national legal systems and traditions Special issues relating to the Common Law.
DCFR: its general reception Some support from participants Critical approaches typified by Zimmermann and Hugh Collins
CESL and its general reception Some support from participants Critical approaches typified by Zimmermann and Micklitz
The autonomies of law • The autonomies of law as a challenge to a European Civil Code or DCFR • National legal systems • Private law, public law • Commercial law, private law • European law in the national traditions of private law • A set of false dichotomies?
European law and the challenge of common law • Common law contracts in areas such as finance, IP • Common law practice with US and London firms.
The efficiency of the common law • World Bank: Doing Business • Understanding regulation 2004 • Removing obstacles to growth 2005 • Réponse de l’Association Henri Capitant aux Rapports "Doing business" de la Banque Mondiale - Les droits de tradition civiliste en question
How the common law sees itself • Tennekoon and Wood
The role of legislation in the common law of commerce • Contract, case law and default rules in legislation. • Limited. • No general codifications. • Exceptions, insurance codifications.
Some features of the common law of England: traditional argument • Structure of contract law is different: limited default rules, contract practice aims at providing an autonomous and complete regime. • Interpretation of contracts: exclusionary rules (pre-contractual negotiations and postcontractual behaviour) and literalism. Role of good faith. • Creditor-friendly.
How is the common law developing • Law on interpretation of contracts is changing: exclusionary rules and literalism. Role of good faith. • Creditor-friendliness is less obvious in insolvency but still more freedom in constructing securities. • Structure of contract law remains different in this respect: limited default rules, contract practice aims at providing an autonomous and complete regime. But here many areas follow this direction.
Critical perspectives on these common law features • Structure of contract law: what is the cost of current contract law practice with no default rules to rely on, transaction cost in contracting, quality of contract terms • Interpretation of contracts: did these rules ever provide the benefits envisaged? • Creditor-friendliness: the economic cost benefit analysis. Personal credit and security rights. Creditor protection and access to credit without security.
Absence of principles • P Birks English Private Law
The national paradigm and the closed system • Did it ever apply? • In legislative reform • In the courts • Current developments: Italian and English courts, the US. • Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services Ltd, [2002] UKHL 22. • Sentenza n. 21748 del 16 ottobre 2007 (Sezione Prima Civile, Presidente M. G. Luccioli, Relatore A. GiustiSentenza n. 21748 del 16 ottobre 2007 (Sezione Prima Civile, Presidente M. G. Luccioli, Relatore A. Giusti, “Salute,accanimentoterapeutico,statovegetativo,eutanasia”). • Roper v Simmons 543 US 551 (2005).
The positions in the US debate. • Harold Koh, Sir Basil Markesinis, Jeremy Waldron, the ‘liberal’ justices • Mary-Ann Glendon, The Federalist Society, the conservative justices
The positions in the English debate. Sir Basil Markesinis, Lord Bingham: making use of comparative law as a tool John Bell: limitations of context but still of use in policy reform and legal analysis Jane Stapleton, Lord Hoffmann