L’émergence depuis quelques années de nouvelles lois de police pour protéger certaines parties faibles au sein des contrats internationaux a été identifiée sous l’appellation de lois de police protectrices. En tant que renouvellement du mécanisme traditionnel des lois de police, cette émergence interroge, notamment quant à son bien-fondé. Cela suppose d’envisager les lois de police protectrices à la fois en tant que nouveau concept, et en tant qu’objet s’intégrant dans un environnement plus général. Ces nouvelles lois de police se sont imposées pour répondre à un besoin de protection sur la scène internationale. Cependant, la philosophie des lois de police apparaît difficilement conciliable avec l’objectif de protection d’une partie faible. Dès lors, il conviendrait de modifier certaines caractéristiques du mécanisme afin qu’il soit en mesure d’atteindre cet objectif de protection. Mais alors, se crée une déformation du concept initial de l’outil des lois de police. En outre, envisagées au sein de leur environnement, à savoir le droit européen des contrats, les lois de police protectrices sont susceptibles d’être limitées par des concepts propres au droit de l’Union. Elles peuvent aussi être dépassées par des outils d’inspiration européenne qui mettent en œuvre un autre lien entre l’impérativité d’une norme et l’exigence de protection de la partie faible. / These past few years, the advent of new mandatory provisions to protect certain weaker parties within the realm of international contracts have been identified as protective mandatory provisions. As a renewal of the traditional mandatory provisions mechanism, it raises several questions with regards to its merits. This requires to consider protective mandatory provisions as a concept in itself, as well as an object integrated in a more global legal environment. These new mandatory provisions have appeared as an answer to a need for protection on the international level. However, the philosophy of mandatory provisions can be considered to be incompatible with the objective of the protecting the weaker party. Therefore, it is necessary to change certain characteristics of the mechanism in order for it to effectively attain its protection objective. It would then, however, amount to a deformation of the initial concept of mandatory provisions. Finally, considered within their environment, i.e. European contract law, protective mandatory provisions can be limited by EU-specific law concepts. They can also be surpassed by other tools, of European inspiration, putting into effect another link between the imperative character of the norm and the protection requirement of the weaker party.

Le droit international privé français tient pour usuel la dissociation entre le conflit de lois et le conflit de juridictions. Cette indépendance entre les deux corps de règles est érigée en principe tant par la doctrine majoritaire que par le droit positif. Selon ce principe, toute forme de corrélation est et doit être réfutée, qu’elle opère au moment de la mise en œuvre des règles de conflit ou de leur construction. En d’autres termes, ce sont ainsi trois hypothèses qui sont dénoncées : celle de l’applicabilité directe de la lex fori en tant que telle, mais également celles de la compétence du forum legis et du parallélisme des règles de conflit, celles-ci conduisant à une applicabilité indirecte de la lex fori. Or, selon la présente étude, le droit international privé des obligations montre qu’un tel principe n’existe pas et qu’il n’est pas nécessairement opportun. En effet, et un tel constat s’impose, tant le mécanisme des lois de police que le jeu de l’autonomie de la volonté suscitent une applicabilité directe de la lex fori. Par ailleurs, la réfutation des modes de corrélation indirecte est inopportune. D’une part, la compétence du forum legis permet de garantir l’effectivité des lois de police, dans la mesure où aucun autre remède ne se révèle suffisant. D’autre part, la spécialisation du droit international privé des obligations et l’emprise du droit de l’Union européenne sur cette discipline génère des règles de compétence et de loi applicable qui présentent un certain parallélisme qui n’est pas uniquement accidentel. La thèse invite ainsi à remettre en question certains dogmes classiques du droit international privé des obligations. / French private international law holds as usual the dissociation between choice of law and judicial jurisdiction. This independence between the two sets of rules is set up as a principle by both majority doctrine and law. According to this principle, any form of correlation is and must be refuted, whether it occurs at the time of implementation of the conflict rules or the time of their formulation. In other words, three hypotheses are thus denounced: that of the direct applicability of the lex fori as such, but also those of the jurisdiction of the forum legis and the parallelism of the conflict rules, which lead to an indirect applicability of the lex fori. However, according to this study, contracts and torts private international law shows that such a principle does not exist and that it is not necessarily appropriate. Indeed, both the mechanism of overriding mandatory provisions and freedom of choice of law give rise to a direct applicability of the lex fori. Moreover, the refutation of indirect correlation modes is inappropriate. On the one hand, the jurisdiction of forum legis makes it possible to guarantee the effectiveness of overriding mandatory provisions, insofar as no other remedy is sufficient. On the other hand, the specialisation of contracts and torts private international law and the influence of European Union law on this discipline generate rules of judicial jurisdiction rules and applicable law that present a certain parallelism that is not only accidental. The thesis thus invites us to question certain classic dogmas of private international law of obligations.

Electronic commerce from a private international law perspective The objective of this thesis is to study how the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is applied in the field of electronic commerce and compare it to the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts in regard to the prevailing tendency to remove legal barriers to electronic commerce. The comparison is made in terms of geographic and material scope, forms of contract and how contracts are formed. An analysis of conditions and obstacles to the application of the CISG within the field of electronic commerce represents the core of the work. The thesis is based on the assumption that the Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts is an instrument which helps to overcome identified obstacles. The thesis formulates a conclusion on overcoming just one of the obstacles on the basis of the principle of technological neutrality, and it further demonstrates that the requirement of being in written form may remain an obstacle. As such, the thesis is a response to the question of why the Convention is signed and ratified by a relatively small number of states.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T10:46:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RICARDO AGUIAR BARROS.pdf: 915982 bytes, checksum: eb7975f43af665b70148e32e7eefd0fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-17 / This work is linked to the research line "International Relations" of the Master's program in Law, International Relations and Development from the Catholic University of Goiás analyzes the principle of autonomy of the contracting parties in a private international relations, as well as principles that encourage entrepreneurship and free enterprise and protect the company, as a figure in primary production and growth of a country. The Brazilian Civil Code of 2002 brought a number of principles that guide and delimit the will of the parties at the time of hiring, the execution of contracts and completion / termination thereof. Hence the study of national and international contracts, laws applicable to the institute and understanding of freedom of choice of contractors and their limits imposed by international conventions of The Hague, Vienna and Rome and by UNIDROIT and the cases and trial of the major conflicts . / Esta dissertação vincula-se à linha de pesquisa "Relações Internacionais" do programa de Mestrado em Direito, Relações Internacionais e Desenvolvimento pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás. Analisa o princípio da autonomia da vontade das partes contratantes em uma relação internacional privada, bem como o empreendedorismo como princípios que incentivam a livre iniciativa e a proteção a empresa, como figura primordial na proteção e crescimento de um país. O Código Civil brasileiro de 2002 trouxe vários princípios que norteiam e delimitam a vontade dos contratantes no momento de contratar, na execução dos contratos e na conclusão/extinção dos mesmos. Daí o estudo dos contratos nacionais e internacionais, as leis aplicáveis ao instituto e a compreensão da autonomia da vontade dos contratantes e seus limites impostos pelas convenções internacionais de Haia, de Viena e de Roma e pela UNIDROIT bem como os casos concretos e julgados dos principais conflitos.

Les relations commerciales avec la Chine s’intensifiant, la conclusion de contrats internationaux est de plus en plus fréquente pour les opérateurs économiques étrangers et chinois. En vertu du principe de la liberté contractuelle, les parties à un contrat international peuvent choisir une loi applicable à leur contrat afin de bénéficier de plus de souplesse, de sécurité juridique ou de neutralité. Cette étude basée notamment sur les actualités juridiques chinoises a pour objectif de donner une référence pratique sur la réglementation des contrats internationaux en Chine à travers la présentation des principes généraux du contrat international chinois, la conclusion, l’exécution et les difficultés d’application des contrats internationaux. Il y est aussi analysé l’application de la Convention des Nations Unies sur les contrats de vente internationale de marchandises, ainsi que certains cas de refus de reconnaissance et d’exécution de sentences étrangères en Chine. En traitant exclusivement des contrats internationaux en matière de commerce international, cette étude pourra offrir aux investisseurs étrangers désirant investir en Chine une vision relativement complète sur l’actualité de la réglementation des contrats internationaux en Chine et ainsi permettre aux parties de bien choisir la loi qui devra régir leurs rapports contractuels envisagés afin de réaliser leurs intérêts et d’éviter les mauvaises surprises liées à la méconnaissance des lois et des règlements chinois en vigueur. / China’s economy has grown significantly during the past thirty years under a policy of socialist market economy. For the purposes of international trade, Chinese international contract law makes reference to western law, while maintaining distinctive features stemming from political influence and Chinese culture. As trade relations with China intensify, foreign and Chinese economic entities are entering into an increasing number of international contracts. In accordance with the principle of contractual freedom, parties to an international contract may choose which law will govern their contract, so as to enjoy a greater degree of flexibility, legal safety or neutrality. This study, based mainly on Chinese legal developments, aims to provide a practical reference on the regulation of international contracts in China by presenting the general principles of international Chinese contracts, and the negotiation and execution of international contracts, as well as difficulties related to their application. It also analyses the manner in which the United Nations Convention applies to international sale of goods contracts, as well as certain cases of refusal to recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards in China. By dealing exclusively with international contracts related to international trade, this study will provide foreign investors wishing to invest in China with a comprehensive picture of the current regulation of international contracts in China and will allow the parties to choose which law to govern their contractual relationships in order to achieve their objectives and avoid any unpleasant surprises resulting from their lack of awareness of current Chinese laws and regulations.

Since the Internet became available for commercial use in the early 90s, the way of doing business was changed forever. The Internet and electronic commerce have allowed people to carry out business by means of electronic communications, which makes it possible for them to do business and to conclude contracts with people situated within foreign jurisdictions. The need for consumer protection in electronic commerce has become necessary because of the misuse of aspects peculiar to electronic–commerce. Consumers have been cautious to make use of electroniccommerce, as they are uncertain about the consequences that their actions might have. Consumers will only utilise e–commerce if they have confidence in the legal system regulating it; therefore, legislation was needed to regulate their e–commerce activities. In 2002, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002 was introduced into South African law as the first piece of legislation that would deal exclusively with electronic communications. Chapter VII of this particular act deals exclusively with consumer protection and seeks to remove certain uncertainties imposed by e–commerce. This is done by providing the South African consumer with statutory rights and obligations when engaging in electronic communications. The Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008 is the most recent piece of legislation that aims to promote a consistent legislative and enforcement framework relating to consumer transactions and agreements. South African legislation dealing with electronic commerce is relatively recent, and it is uncertain whether consumers are offered sufficient protection when they conclude contracts with suppliers or sellers from a foreign jurisdiction, that is, one that is situated outside South Africa. After looking at the protection mechanisms in place for South African consumers engaging in e–commerce, we have seen that there are certain problems that one might experience when trying to determine the applicability of some of the consumer protection measures to international electronic contracts. Most of the problems that we have identified are practical of nature. Consumers may, for instance, find it hard to execute their rights against foreign suppliers in a South African court, even if the court has jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. Another problem that we identified is that some of the important terms in our legislation are too vaguely defined. Vague terms and definitions can lead to legal uncertainty, as consumers might find it hard to understand the ambit of the acts, and to determine the applicability thereof on their transactions. In order to look for possible solutions for South Africa, the author referred to the legal position with regards to consumer protections in the United Kingdom, and saw the important role that European Union legislation plays when determining the legal position regarding consumer protection in the UK. The legislation in the UK dealing with consumer protection is far more specific than the South African legislation dealing with same. There is definitely consumer protection legislation in place in South Africa but the ongoing technological changes in the electronic commerce milieu make it necessary for our legislators to review consumer protection legislation on a regular basis to ensure that it offers sufficient protection for South African consumers engaging in international electronic contracts. / Thesis (LL.M. (Import and Export Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Since the Internet became available for commercial use in the early 90s, the way of doing business was changed forever. The Internet and electronic commerce have allowed people to carry out business by means of electronic communications, which makes it possible for them to do business and to conclude contracts with people situated within foreign jurisdictions. The need for consumer protection in electronic commerce has become necessary because of the misuse of aspects peculiar to electronic–commerce. Consumers have been cautious to make use of electroniccommerce, as they are uncertain about the consequences that their actions might have. Consumers will only utilise e–commerce if they have confidence in the legal system regulating it; therefore, legislation was needed to regulate their e–commerce activities. In 2002, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002 was introduced into South African law as the first piece of legislation that would deal exclusively with electronic communications. Chapter VII of this particular act deals exclusively with consumer protection and seeks to remove certain uncertainties imposed by e–commerce. This is done by providing the South African consumer with statutory rights and obligations when engaging in electronic communications. The Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008 is the most recent piece of legislation that aims to promote a consistent legislative and enforcement framework relating to consumer transactions and agreements. South African legislation dealing with electronic commerce is relatively recent, and it is uncertain whether consumers are offered sufficient protection when they conclude contracts with suppliers or sellers from a foreign jurisdiction, that is, one that is situated outside South Africa. After looking at the protection mechanisms in place for South African consumers engaging in e–commerce, we have seen that there are certain problems that one might experience when trying to determine the applicability of some of the consumer protection measures to international electronic contracts. Most of the problems that we have identified are practical of nature. Consumers may, for instance, find it hard to execute their rights against foreign suppliers in a South African court, even if the court has jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. Another problem that we identified is that some of the important terms in our legislation are too vaguely defined. Vague terms and definitions can lead to legal uncertainty, as consumers might find it hard to understand the ambit of the acts, and to determine the applicability thereof on their transactions. In order to look for possible solutions for South Africa, the author referred to the legal position with regards to consumer protections in the United Kingdom, and saw the important role that European Union legislation plays when determining the legal position regarding consumer protection in the UK. The legislation in the UK dealing with consumer protection is far more specific than the South African legislation dealing with same. There is definitely consumer protection legislation in place in South Africa but the ongoing technological changes in the electronic commerce milieu make it necessary for our legislators to review consumer protection legislation on a regular basis to ensure that it offers sufficient protection for South African consumers engaging in international electronic contracts. / Thesis (LL.M. (Import and Export Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.