bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contracts Contrary to Public Policy under English Law and Dutch Law: The Case of Agreements Affecting Matrimony
Authors: Mansoor Zeeshan 
Published: April 2022

Abstract: Both English law and Dutch law contain general rules that result in the invalidity of contracts that conflict with morality or public policy. Working on the premise that each country has its own unique set of factors shaping public interests, this article highlights methodological aspects of identifying the extent to which convergences and divergences exist in the English and Dutch approaches towards the invalidity of contracts on grounds of public policy and good morals. Case patterns dealing with contracts affecting the institution of marriage under both English law and Dutch law are used as an example in this paper. They are analysed using a new methodology: the 'principle-policy clarification' methodology. Subsequently, the results are comparatively examined. The outcome reveals that English law and Dutch law converge to a significant degree as far as contracts affecting matrimony are concerned. Résumé: Le droit anglais et le droit néerlandais contiennent tous deux des règles générales résultant dans la nullité des contrats contraires à la morale ou à l'ordre public. Partant du principe que chaque pays possède son propre ensemble de facteurs constituant des intérêts publics, cet article souligne les aspects méthodologiques permettant d'identifier l'étendue des convergences et divergences qui existent dans les approches anglaises et néerlandaises sur la nullité des contrats basée sur l'ordre public et les bonnes moeurs. L'article utilise à titre d'exemples des cas typiques de contrats touchant l'institution du mariage en droit anglais et en droit néerlandais. Ils sont analysés selon une nouvelle méthodologie : la méthodologie de la 'clarification de la politique du principe'. Les résultats sont ensuite examinés de manière comparative. L'issue révèle que, dans la mesure où sont concernés des contrats de mariage, le droit anglais et le droit néerlandais convergent jusqu'à un degré significatif.
The Development of EU Property Law
Authors: Ramaekers Eveline 
Published: April 2022

Abstract: European Union property law is a quickly developing field of law. By studying the European acquis communautaire we can see that the contours of a European system of property law have slowly been emerging through legislation that incorporates property law rules and terminology. However, at the moment, EU property law is still very fragmented and has for a long time not been rooted in any clear policy or legislative agenda. It is important to study and further develop this field of law because it is seriously out of step with the development of European contract law and because national rules of property law as they currently stand could and do cause hindrances to free movement within the European internal market. This article sketches the existing European legislation concerning property law and provides a proposal for its future development. It thereafter highlights the most recent developments in EU property law, showing that the European legislature, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), academics, and practitioners are all increasingly paying attention to this exciting and challenging new field of law. Résumé: Le droit des biens de l'Union Européenne est une domaine de droit en développement rapide. En étudiant l'acquis communautaire Européen, on peut apercevoir que les contours d'une système Européenne de droit des biens ont émergés lentement dans législation incorporant des règles et termes du droit biens. Cependant, pour le moment, le droit des biens de l'UE reste profondément fragmenté, et n'est pas enracinée dans aucun agenda politique ou législatif clair. Il est important d'étudier et plus développer cette domaine de loi, car elle est gravement déphasée avec le développement du droit des obligations Européen, et des règles nationales du droit des biens existants causent des obstacles contre la mouvement libre dans le marché intérieur Européen. Cet article esquisse la législation Européenne concernant le droit des biens existant, et propose une scenario pour sa développement dans l'avenir. En plus, cet article met en proéminence les développements en droit des biens UE les plus récents, qui démontrent que la législature Européenne, le Cour de Justice de l'UE, des académiques et praticiens prêtent de plus en plus attention à cette domaine de droit excitante et stimulante.
Alternative Litigation Funding and the Italian Perspective
Authors: Solas Gian Marco 
Published: April 2022

Abstract: Alternative Litigation Funding (ALF) refers to any practice whereby an entity not party to a dispute provides capital to claimants or defendants or in any way bears whole or part of the dispute costs, in exchange for a share of the expected financial recovery. For a few years, the use of ALF has experienced some success in certain common law jurisdictions but has not yet emerged in most (European Union) civil law countries. Italy is one of those countries in which ALF has not yet emerged, although court costs have steadily increased in recent years, and practitioners’ claims for access to justice have multiplied. Against this background, after a comparative overview, this article aims to shed light on the current status and issues related to ALF in Italy. In doing so, some Italian legislation that might potentially involve this manner of funding will also be analysed, particularly with regard to the recent reforms of (civil and commercial) justice. Résumé: Le financement alternatif du contentieux (FAC) se réfère à toute pratique par laquelle une entité non partie à une dispute fournit des capitaux aux parties, ou encore assume tout ou partie des coûts liés au litige, en échange d’une part des gains attendus. Depuis plusieurs années, le FAC connaît un succès grandissant dans certains pays de common law. En revanche, la plupart des pays de droit civil de l’Union Européenne se sont pas encore ouverts à cette pratique. En Italie par exemple, le FAC n’a pas encore vu le jour bien que, au cours des dernières années, les frais de justice aient augmenté de facon constante et les plaintes des praticiens concernant l’accès à la justice se soient multipliées. L’objectif de cet article sera donc d’établir un état des lieux des questions liées à l’introduction du FAC en Italie. Après un rapide apercu comparatif, nous analyserons la législation italienne pouvant concerner cette forme de financement. Nous intéresserons ainsi en particulier aux récentes réformes de la justice civile et commerciale.
Parental Liability for Cartel Infringements Committed by Wholly Owned Subsidiaries: Is the Approach of the European Court of Justice in Akzo Nobel also Relevant in a Private-Law Context?
Authors: Van Leuken Roel 
Published: April 2022

Abstract: Although the European Court of Justice, in Akzo Nobel, expressly decided that the anti-competitive behaviour of a (wholly owned) subsidiary may be imputed to the parent company when both form part of the same economic unit, it is doubtful that this theory of identification really is at the base of the joint and several liability of the parent for the payment of a cartel fine. This article not only traces the actual basis of the competition law liability of a parent company for cartel infringements committed by a (wholly owned) subsidiary but also investigates whether that liability automatically translates into the civil liability of the parent company for damages suffered by third parties due to an infringement of competition law committed by a (wholly owned) subsidiary. Résumé: Bien que la Cour de Justice ait explicitement affirmé, dans l’arrêt Akzo Nobel, que le comportement anticoncurrentiel d’une filiale dont le capital est détenu en totalité par la société mère peut être imputé à cette dernière lorsque toutes deux font partie d’une même unité économique, il est permis de douter que cette théorie de l’identification soit réellement la justification de la condamnation conjointe et solidaire de la société mère au paiement d’une amende pour cartel. Le présent article analyse non seulement le véritable fondement de la responsabilité, en droit de la concurrence, de la société mère pour les infractions en matière de cartel commises par une filiale détenue à 100 %, mais envisage également la question de savoir si cette responsabilité implique en outre, automatiquement, une responsabilité civile de la société mère pour les dommages subis par des tiers à la suite d’une infraction au droit de la concurrence commise par une filiale détenue à 100 %.
Überlegungen zu dem schwierigen Verhältnis von EU-Privatrecht und nationalem Privatrecht
Authors: Micklitz Hans-W. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract: The present essay starts from the premise that many private lawyers share my intuition that the research field has received relatively little attention. There is an abundant debate about the Common Frame of Reference and the Common European Sales Law; but the influence of primary Community law on private law as well as the visible European regulation of private law in all its facets have been neglected. The structuring of the different levels of relations between EU and private law discloses specific deficiencies. In the final part of the essay the reasons are investigated which may lie behind this limited attention. Résumé: Le point de départ de cette contribution est un constat partagé par de nombreux privatistes – l’importance limitée du sujet. Alors que le projet de cadre commun de référence et le droit commun européen de la vente ont été abondamment débattus, tant l’influence du droit européen primaire sur le droit privé que la régulation européenne de toutes les facettes du droit privé ont été négligées. L’analyse structurelle des différents niveaux de la relation entre le droit de l’Union européenne et le droit privé met en évidence les défaillances spécifiques à chacun de ces niveaux. La dernière partie de l’étude est consacrée aux raisons qui peuvent expliquer l’attention limitée portée à ces questions.
The Belgian Civil Code: How to Restore its Central Position in Modern Private Law?
Authors: Samoy Ilse , Peeraer Frederik 
Published: April 2022

Abstract: This essay addresses the status of the Belgian Civil Code in the twenty-first century. If the French revision process should have a successful outcome, Belgium will be one of the last countries to use a nineteenth century code. Does Belgium also need a revision of its Civil Code, or are there suitable alternatives? If a revision is advisable, a more fundamental question arises: How can a revised Belgian Civil Code cope with the stratification of private law and the multiple challenges every European legal system faces today? The first part of this essay briefly elucidates the challenges for the Belgian Civil Code. The second part looks for suitable responses, including (but not limited to) a possible revision of the aforementioned code. The third part will argue that a modernization of the Belgian Civil Code is essential to restore its central position in private law. Since two of the key advantages of codes are their durability and their comprehensive scope, a modern Belgian Civil Code’s content should be limited to concepts, basic principles, and general rules. Any attempt to offer an overview of private law in its entirety in a single civil code can only be detrimental to those two key advantages. Because of the limited powers of a national legislature, the further development of the law can only result from collaboration between many different actors. An unremitting emphasis on the facts underlying hard legal questions and on the legal discourse is a necessary element of such a collaborative contribution.
The Risk of Misusing Trusts: Some Lessons from the Italian Experience
Authors: Braun Alexandra 
Published: April 2022

In the course of the past decade, several European legislatures have introduced devices into their legal systems that are functionally similar to trusts, including the Czech Republic, which has inserted a new set of provisions into its new Civil Code. Such developments are sometimes accompanied by fears that trusts might be misused or abused. Some of the concerns commonly raised about trusts are that trustees could misappropriate trust property to the detriment of beneficiaries, or that trusts could be used to shield assets from creditors, spouses or forced heirs of the settlor. Other fears are that trusts can be used for money-laundering purposes or to hide assets from tax authorities, and that third parties dealing with trustees may be unaware of the trust’s existence. This article discusses Italy’s experience with trusts, where they have become a popular instrument used in a variety of contexts, often to make up for shortcomings of domestic laws. Its aim is to provide a brief overview of the nature of the trusts employed in Italy, and their purposes, and to discuss whether and to what extent some of the concerns mentioned above have materialized in legal practice, and how they have been addressed. The Italian experience demonstrates that not all concerns that are generally voiced against trusts necessarily arise in practice. It further shows that where issues have arisen concerning, for instance, creditor protection, the legal system is well equipped to tackle or mediate risks of misusing and abusing trusts. Italian courts have reacted effectively even though there is no national legislation providing Italian courts with special powers.
Schockschaden und Hinterbliebenengeld nach deutschem Recht und Angehörigenschmerzensgeld nach türkischem Recht
Authors: Çevik Ipek 
Published: April 2022

Zusammenfassung: Nach verschiedenen Unfällen wie der Flugzeugabsturz von Germanwings wurde in der deutschen Literatur heftig diskutiert, ob ein Angehörigenschmerzensgeld nach deutschem Recht benötigt würde. In 2017 hat der Gesetzgeber eine neue Regelung zum Hinterbliebenengeld im § 844 Abs. 3 BGB verabschiedet. Der vorliegende Artikel vergleicht das Angehörigenschmerzensgeld nach türkischem Recht mit dem Anspruch auf Schockschäden und Hinterbliebenengeld nach deutschem Recht. In diesem Zusammenhang werden die Ansichten in der Literatur in Bezug auf die Einführung eines Angehörigenschmerzensgeldes in das deutsche Recht dargelegt. Abstract: After various accidents like the plane crash of Germanwings it was heatedly discussed within German literature whether a compensation for the pain and suffering of relatives would be needed in the German law. In 2017 the legislator passed a new regulation concerning the bereavement damages of relatives and dependants in § 844 section 3 BGB (German Civil Code). The present article compares the compensation for the pain and suffering of relatives according to Turkish law with the damage claim caused by shock and the bereavement damages according to German law. In this context, the views in literature on the introduction of a compensation for the pain and suffering of relatives into German law is being described.
The Law and Economics of Cyber Insurance Contracts: A Case Study
Authors: Visscher Louis , Nieuwesteeg Bernold , de Waard Bob 
Published: April 2022

Abstract: We combine cyber risk literature with insurance law and economics literature to study cyber insurance contracts. We aim to explore to what extent current cyber insurance contracts contribute to social welfare, both theoretically and empirically. First, we discuss main trade-offs in insuring cyber risk within a theoretical framework. This framework also includes strategic behaviour of market participants and impediments for market growth that result from the complex dynamics of cyber risk. Subsequently, a case study in the Netherlands compares the theoretical expectations with the actual state of cyber insurance contracts, prices and market participants. The results suggest that insurers currently halt between two options: either a strategy of rigorous market penetration with easily accessible and attractive insurance products, or a strategy of significant hedging of correlated risks that reduces the potential of cyber insurance. We aim to assist lawyers, legal counsels and judges when drafting or reviewing actual cyber insurance contracts. Résumé: Pour étudier les contrats de cyber-assurance, nous réunissons la documentation sur le cyber-risque, le droit des assurances et la littérature économique. Nous nous donnons pour objectif d’étudier dans quelle mesure les contrats de cyber-assurance contribuent à la protection sociale, aussi bien en théorie qu’en pratique. Nous évoquons d’abord les principaux choix à opérer en matière d’assurance des cyber-risques dans un cadre théorique. Ce cadre inclut également un comportement stratégique des participants au marché et des obstacles à la croissance du marché qui proviennent de dynamiques complexes du cyberrisque. Une étude de cas aux Pays-Bas compare ensuite les expectatives théoriques avec l’état actuel des contrats de cyber-assurances, des prix et des participants au marché. Les résultats indiquent que les assureurs hésitent entre deux options: soit une stratégie de pénétration rigoureuse du marché avec des produits d’assurance facilement accessibles et attractifs, soit une stratégie de couverture importante de risques corrélés qui diminuent le potentiel de la cyber-assurance. Nous souhaitons aider des avocats, des conseillers juridiques et des juges dans la rédaction ou la supervision de textes de contrats de cyber-assurance.
Breach of Contract and Damages for Non-Pecuniary Loss
Authors: Kryla-Cudna Katarzyna 
Published: April 2022

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to investigate whether non-pecuniary interests of the parties should be protected in contract law and what should be the scope of such protection. The article sheds light on the theoretical framework of contract remedies and claims that the compensability of non-pecuniary loss is necessary for an adequate protection of the interests of the parties to a contract. It further investigates the policy arguments against the recoverability of non-pecuniary loss in contract law and argues that such arguments cannot be considered a sufficient justification for a bar to compensation of moral damages. Finally, based on a survey of case law from several European jurisdictions, the article provides insight into the kinds of non-pecuniary consequences that may arise from a breach of contract. Résumé: L’objectif du présent article est de rechercher si les préjudices moraux des parties devraient être protégés en droit des contrats et quelle devrait être l’étendue de cette protection. L’article examine le cadre théorique des solutions contractuelles et soutient qu’il est nécessaire d’inclure le dommage moral afin de pouvoir protéger de manière adéquate les intérêts des parties à un contrat. Il recherche en outre les arguments politiques réfutant la recouvrabilité du dommage moral en droit des contrats et indique que de tels arguments ne peuvent être considérés comme une justification suffisante pour faire obstacle aux préjudices moraux. Finalement, en se basant sur l’étude de plusieurs affaires portées devant différents tribunaux européens, l’article donne un aperçu de sortes de dommages moraux pouvant provenir d’une rupture de contrat.
Private Enforcement as a Deterrence Tool: A Blind Spot in the Omnibus-Directive
Authors: Pavillon Charlotte 
Published: April 2022

The Directive on better enforcement and modernization of EU consumer protection rules or Omnibus-directive does not acknowledge the deterrence function of private enforcement of EU consumer law. The article demonstrates that the balancing of the principles of effectiveness, proportionality and dissuasiveness requires more attention when it comes to ‘civil remedies’. Indeed, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has in recent years put a clear emphasis on the deterrence function of the nonbinding effect of unfair contract terms, a civil sanction imposed by civil courts. These courts, however, are struggling with the implications of this function. They are actively searching for direction by referring new preliminary questions to the CJEU. Empirical research conducted in the Netherlands shows that Dutch district courts largely recognize their role as enforcer of EU consumer law. It also reveals that these courts consider the proportionality and the dissuasiveness of the sanction to be at odds when the gap left after the removal of an unfair contract term is not filled with national law.
European consumer law, sanctions, civil law, unfair contract terms, civil courts
The Principle of Transparency in Practice: How Different Groups of Stakeholders View EU Online Information Obligations
Authors: J. Wulf Alexander , Seizov Ognyan 
Published: April 2022

Online information obligations have come under heavy criticism, among other things because they are felt to be too numerous, too long, and insufficiently transparent. To date, empirical research on online disclosures employed quantitative research designs that were restricted to a consumer-centric perspective in pre-contract conclusion scenarios. The aim of this article is to add to our understanding of online information disclosures in Europe by investigating them from multiple perspectives. We report on how the most relevant stakeholders inGermany, the largest consumermarket in the EUand the pioneer of the transparency principle, view disclosures online as currently defined in European law.We obtained responses on online information obligations’ goals and target groups, their shortcomings and how they could be improved, compliance and processing costs for businesses and consumers, and transparency. We conclude by advocating a paradigm shift in research on information obligations and the formulation of the EU policies that govern them. We propose the alternative view that consumers read disclosures mainly in a post-contract conclusion scenario, as this is a more realistic assumption on their actual use case. On this basis we submit various policy proposals.
Transparency, online information obligations, consumer policy, empirical legal studies, qualitative research
Online Platform Service Providers on Platform 9¾: A Call for an Update of the Unfair Contract Terms Directive
Authors: Hajek Bea 
Published: April 2022

This article argues for an update of the Unfair Contract Terms Directive of 1993 in light of the Commission’s Digital Single Market Strategy of 2015. The Directive in its current setup tolerates a certain amount of differences in the unfairness assessment based on national law due to its minimum harmonization approach and the mechanism of decentralized enforcement by national courts according to national law, designed by the CJEU. A comparative unfairness assessment of contract terms of five popular online platform service providers according to the national laws of Germany, the UK and France reveals just how different the result really is. The differences in national unfairness assessment according to the laws of the Member States go beyond the amount of differences justified by the Directive viewed from the perspective of the Commission’s legislative strategy. This inconsistency can be resolved by an update of the Unfair Contract Terms Directive. A modernization and the adoption of a maximum harmonization approach seem the most adequate considering the Digital Single Market Strategy. Right now, the Directive is stuck on the symbolic platform 9¾ – in between platform 9, the offline world for which it was created, and platform 10, the digital market.
Online Platform Service Providers, Unfair Contract Terms, Digital SingleOnline Platform Service Providers, Unfair Contract Terms, Digital Single Market, Liability Clauses