CLUSTER 2: PRIVATE LAW - Contract law 2: content

20 important questions on CLUSTER 2: PRIVATE LAW - Contract law 2: content

What makes up the consequences of a contract?

The content (obliations, interpretation and good faith) and the remedies upon breach.

What are the common clauses in a contract? (8)

1. Obligation,
2. Force Majeure
3. Warranties
4. Remedies limiting damages
5. Penalties
6. Termination
7. Intellectual Property
8. Survival

Describe the obligation clause and its consequences

Describes the obligations including possible conditions. Upon breach remedies may be invoked.
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Describe Force Majeure clause

Regulates whether certain outside events are attributable to a party

Describe the warranties clause

In common law the party warrants that some things are there.

Describe the two limitations of the remedies limiting damages clause.

1. Limitation of remedies:
2. Liquidated damages clause: there is a fixated number of damages that should be compensated.

Describe the penalties clause

Penalties are prohibited in some countries. If you do something wrong you pay an amount of money regardless the damage. It is not clear when the amount is fixed (liquidated) or if it is over the amount of damage (penalties)

Describe the termination clause

Under what conditions can the contract be terminated and what are the consequences? For instance when someone dies or paid damages upon termination.

Describe the IP clause

Make a programmer explicitly hand over software to you

What is the general principle of remedies?

Obligation --> breach of contract sufficiently serious to make a case --> damages, specific performance, termination.

What is the difference between common law systems and civil law systems in remedies upon breach of contract?

In common law you need specific terms (warranties and representations) in order to have a remedy. Furthermore you need to explicitly add a clause which remedy applies in case of violation of that term.
Civil law: generally all clauses that impose an obligation allow a remedy in case the obligation is breached. The difference is between EXPLICIT remedies and IMPLICIT remedies.

Why is it important to have a jurisdiction clause?

Because the different legal systems determine whether it is relevant that a specific term is called a warranty, condition or representation and what remedies are available in case such a term is not fulfilled.

What is the interpretation method for common law? What does this imply in practice?

Common law has an objective interpretation: literalism in text interpretation and surrounding evidence sucha s intentions are not allowed. Without good regulation the outcome can become unfair.

the approach is more predictable and parties should make sure the contract adequately regeclts intentions.

What is the interpretation style of civil law? What does this mean in practice?

Civil law uses objective interpretation as a basis but subjective interpretation is admitetd to make the agreement match the intentions of the parties.

There may be incorrect ideas about intentions of the parties.

What is the difference between objective interpretation vs subjective interpretation?

Objective interpretation is purely text based and no surrounding evidence such as intentions is allowed.

Subjective interpretation is the intentions of the parties are taken primarily; what can parties failry expect given the text?

What does good faith describe in civil law?

Good faith describes the relationship between parties, where the parties have to behave as reaasonable and fair persons

What are the functions of good faith? (3)

1. Gaps in the contract can be filled by court on basis of what is reasonable
2. Interpreation of the contract is guided by what reasonable parties are supposed to have intended
3. Unreasonable behaviour is disallowed, even when the contract literally does allow this

What are the advantages and disadvantages of good faith?

Advantage: unreasonable consequences of a contract are disallowed
Disadvantage: loss of certainty as good faith can override the contract

What are unfair terms in a contract?

Unfair terms ar enot binding (also by good faith). Abuse of power, or violation of public policy.

What are the controls of contract formation for civil law and common law?

Common law: supervisory agencies
Civil law: legal restrictions to the kind  of terms that can be agreed upon: 
- unfair clause
- clause against public order
- violations of norms of human dignity

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