This 24 hour seminar is intended to introduce participants to the legal aspects of the international implementation of the marketing mix (Product, Price, Channels of distribution and Communications). The focus of the seminar is on the negotiation of contracts, in particular in the light of European Union and American laws. References are also made to marketing law in emerging markets such as China.
 
 

The product mix in the international legal context:
 

Product

- WTO rules (origin, customs valuation, standards)
- Product liability

- Competition law aspects
- Taxation aspects

- Choosing a type of intermediary among: brokers, agents, distributors, franchisees
- Regulation of restrictive practices

Communications

- International advertising
- Electronic commerce

READINGS

Product

Customs
International Business Transactions : A Problem Oriented Coursebook by Ralph H. Folsom, Michael Wallace Gordon, John A. Spanogle (Routledge, 1998), p. 366-375.

Product liability
International Business Law by Ray August (Prentice Hall, 1999), p.177-181.
 

Price

GATT rules
International Business Law and Its Environment, Richard Schaffer, Beverley Earle and Filiberto Agusti, West, New York, 2001, chapter 11, p. 368-388.

Tax aspects of pricing
International Business Law by Ray August (Prentice Hall, 1999), p. 716-725.
 

Distribution

International sales networks
International Business Law and Its Environment, Richard Schaffer, Beverley Earle and Filiberto Agusti, West, New York, 2001, chapter 16.

International licensing
International Business Law and Its Environment, Richard Schaffer, Beverley Earle and Filiberto Agusti, West, New York, 2001, Chapter 17.

Regulation of international competition
International Business Law and Its Environment, Richard Schaffer, Beverley Earle and Filiberto Agusti, West, New York, 2001, Chapter 22.
 

Communications

International Business Law and Its Environment, Richard Schaffer, Beverley Earle and Filiberto Agusti, West, New York, 2001, p. 494-501.

Electronic commerce
Software and Internet Law, Mark A. Lemley, peter S. Menell, Robert P. Marges, and Pamela Samuelson, Aspen Law, New York, 2000, p. 1025-1068.
 

Marketing law in China

Business Law in China: Trade, Investment and Finance by Zhang Yue Jiao and Daniel Lapres, editors (International Chamber of Commerce, Chinese International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, 1997).
 
 

ADDITIONAL READINGS

Product liability

Law and Economics, Robert Cooter, Thomas Ulen (harmter, New York, 1988), p.  421-476.
 

Customs valuation

International Business Transactions : A Problem Oriented Coursebook by Ralph H. Folsom, Michael Wallace Gordon, John A. Spanogle (Routledge, 1998), p. 332-459
 

Agency

Comparative Law : Cases, Text, Materials (University Casebook Series), Rudolf B. Schlesinger, Hans W. Baade, Peter E. Herzog (Foundation Press 1998), p. 768 -793
 

Negotiating distribution contracts

Games, Strategies and Managers, John McMillan (Oxford, New  York, 1992), p.106-119.
 

Licensing, franchising and grey markets

International Business Law by Ray August (Prentice Hall, 1999), p.468-534.

International Business Transactions : A Problem Oriented Coursebook by Ralph H. Folsom, Michael Wallace Gordon, John A. Spanogle (Routledge, 1998), p. 720-797.
 

Countertrade

International Business Transactions : A Problem Oriented Coursebook by Ralph H. Folsom, Michael Wallace Gordon, John A. Spanogle (Routledge, 1998), p. 171-199.
 
 

Agency Cases
Reyes - Kanavos - O'Boyle - Detroit Pure Milk
 

Product liability
 
 

Franchising
 
 

Competition
 
 

Question 1

A famous Japanese camera manufacturer has exclusive importers in the United States, the European Union and also Hong Kong. Each importer had a network of retail sellers within its territory. As a result of the low transportation costs from Japan to Hong Kong, the fact that Hong Kong has no import duties or taxes, that Hong Kong retailers practice razor-thin margins while profiting from high volumes, combine to make retail prices for cameras lower than the wholesale prices in the United States as well as in the European Union.

What recommendations would you make to the Japanese manufacturer? What are the chances of solving satisfactorily this problem?

Question 2

A foreign automobile manufacturer is negotiating an agreement with a Chinese industrial consortium to build cars in China.

Each of the parties is satisfied with an agreement that they have concluded and they have each given the text to their lawyers for review.

The foreign company's lawyers notice that there is no provision in the contract preventing the Chinese consortium from exporting its production to other countries.

Upon investigation, it is learned that under Chinese law, any clause limiting a Chinese company's ability to export products produced with foreign licenses is considered to be void.

If you were the foreign manufacturer how would you approach this problem?

Question 3

A foreign high tech manufacturer is negotiating an agreement with a Chinese industrial consortium to build its products in China.

Each of the parties is satisfied with an agreement that they have concluded and they have each given the text to their lawyers for review.

The foreign company's lawyers notice that there is a provision in the contract requiring that « The Licensor shall provide the Licensee with its latest technology.».

If you were the foreign licensor, how would you approach this problem?

Model International Agency Agreement

Model International Distribution Agreement

Model Franchising Agreement
 
 

Droit communautaire afférant aux Systèmes de Négociation Alternatifs

Droit communautaire afférant aux services financiers en ligne

Régulation américaine des marchés de capitaux face à l'internet

Quelle fiscalité pour le commerce électronique?

Le droit du commerce électronique en République Populaire de Chine
(text in Chinese)

The EU_China WTO Agreement Compared with the US-China Agreement

La distribution en Chine
 
 

PRODUCT

WTO - PRODUCT-RELATED RULES

Rules of origin

Customs valuation

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

Technical Barriers to Trade

Agriculture

Information Technology Agreement

Government procurement

Trade and development

 

PRODUCT LIABILITY

United States - Sources of law

U.C.C. - ARTICLE 2 - € 2-312.

U.C.C. - ARTICLE 2 - € 2-313.

U.C.C. - ARTICLE 2 - € 2-314.

U.C.C. - ARTICLE 2 - € 2-315.

U.C.C. - ARTICLE 2 - € 2-316.

U.C.C. - ARTICLE 2 - € 2-317.

U.C.C. - ARTICLE 2 - € 2-318.

Consumer product warranties

United States - General sources

SSRN Electronic Library

Public Citizen | Congress Watch | Congress Watch - The Facts About Product Liability Lawsuits

The 'Product Liability Fairness Act Of 1995'

Common Sense Product Liability Legal Reform Act of 1996 - Vetoed Bill

Martindale-Hubbell's Lawyers.Com: About the Law: Personal Injury Law

Joe D'Addario's Cyberlaw Page - Products Liability

Overlawyered.com -- Product liability

US news stories

Tobacco Victory: Beginning of the End?

The $710 Million Question
Insurer Has No Duty to Defend Heroin Dealer in Overdose Case
Courts Warm Up to Pet Owners' Suits
3rd Circuit Rules Fitness Test for Police Force Applicants Legal
Landmark Case Puts Man on Trial for Death of Drunken Friend
Calif. Supreme Court Rules Intel Can't Stop E-Mail With Trespass Law
Concord settlement in Germany
Tire Suit Goes Down to the Wire
IBM Toxic Tort Plaintiffs Face Strict Causation Test
Liability of a skier for death in a crash on the slopes
Along for the Ride - Ford/Firestone liability
Judge Orders Massive Ford Recall
Jury Tags Chrysler for $83 Million
Jury's $785M Verdict in Lockheed Case Reversed
3rd Circuit Rejects Attempt To Remand Asbestos Cases
Airline Case Blaming Database for Cali Crash Heads to Trial
Tobacco Giants Hit With $20M In Punitives
Dairy Queen liability
$50M Settlement Expected to Chill Dairy Queen Suit
Jury Smacks Ford With Big Verdict in Bronco Accident

Last Case Against Korean Air Questions If Flight Crashed in International Waters

Ford Case in Low Idle

Plaintiffs Reject Swissair Settlement Offer Outright

Psychological Claim Under Warsaw Convention Fails

Ford faces at least $1 million fine in power plant explosion

Jenny Jones: Show not responsible for guest's death

SAP sued for firm's collapse 9/98

US Sup Ct - GM truck case

US Product Liability: Recent Materials

European Union

The Commission adopts a Green Paper on producer liability

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 25 July 1985 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning liability for defective products

Directive 97/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 April 1997 amending for the 15th time Directive 76/769/EEC on restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations

Commission Directive 98/98/EC of 15 December 1998 adapting to
technical progress for the 25 time Council Directive 67/548/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous  substances
 

Japan

Guide to Product Liability Law

Product Liability and How to Minimize the Risks - product safety, electrical safety, electrical products

International Product Compliance for Electrical and Electronic Products Suppliers and Services Database

TIMEasia.com | Targeting Japan Inc. | 9/25/2000

Product Liability Claims in Japan at the Outset of the 21st Century

mcdcase

PL Claims Filed in Japan since the Early 1990s

Reported Case Filings under the PL Law

PRICE
 

DISTRIBUTION

France - Agents commerciaux

Bienvenue sur le site de la Fédération Nationale des Agents Commerciaux
La loi du 25 juin 1991
Le décret du 10 juin 1992
L'arrêté du 8 janvier 1993
 

European Union law with respect to distribution channels
 

Federal trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission Home Page
Deceptive practices
Unfairness
"Made In USA" Standard
A Business Checklist for Direct Marketers
Advertising substantiation
Statement of Policy Regarding Comparative Advertising

 
Franchising

Legislation and regulations relevant to franchising

Franchise Law article

 

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

 

Introduction

Legal Aspects of Electronic Commerce

 

United States

Electronic Media Issues

Advertising and Marketing on the Internet: Rules of the Road

 

EU Commission

Electronic Commerce and the European Union

Information Society Directorate-General - European Commission

EU Ponders E-Biz Regulations

 

Directive on electronic commerce

Résolution du Conseil du 19 janvier 1999 concernant les aspects de la société de l'information concernant les consommateurs

UK Wants Tighter E-Trading Laws

Directive 1999/93/CE - directive concernant les paiements électroniques

Europeran Directive en e-commerce

 

Electronic signature

Electronic Signatures and the New Economy (Page 1 of 5)

 

Privacy in the EU

EU sees U.S. privacy deal complete in fall

 

Direct selling directive

DG XXIV - Distance Selling

Report on Distance Selling Directive

 

Domain names

New Domain May Unite Europe

 

Encryption law

Encryption law in EU

 

Taxation of electronic commerce

 

OECD

OECD - Tax and Electronic Commerce including internet tax and e-cash

L'OCDE avance sur la fiscalité internationale des sites marchands

Graph tax revenue as percentage of GDP

Statistics

OECD policy on taxation of e-commerce

OECD model tax treaty

United States - General

GigaLaw.com: Taxing E-Commerce: No Solution in Sight (Page 6 of 6)

E-Commerce Tax News

Net taxation resources

TaxLibrary.com: The Internet Tax Research Solution

Internet Taxation, Powerpoint Presentation by Adam D. Thierer -- The Heritage Foundation

Offshore-Onshore - Canada International Tax Site

Lowtax.net - Offshore Tax, E-commerce and Information Resource

Franco-Américaine ! - Les aspects fiscaux du commerce électronique : Travaux de septembre 1998

Ottawa Ministerial Conference on Taxation of Electronic Commerce

Electronic Commerce Project - Australian Tax Office

Electronic commerce-taxation - OECD list of issues

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (UK) re e-taxation

California net tax bill

 

U.S. News stories

Panel Negotiates Net Tax 'Nexus'

Division defines Internet tax panel

Story: Warning: Taxes May be Hazardous to Your Internet

Opportunities & Challenges in the Taxation of Electronic Commerce

States try to tax net

Bienvenue sur le site de la Chambre de Commerce

Les ventes en ligne animent le débat sur la fiscalité du commerce électronique

Le point sur le débat à propos de la fiscalité du commerce électronique

Débat sénatorial au sujet de l'imposition du e-commerce.

Le Sénateur Hollings propose une taxe sur le e-commerce pour financer les écoles

e-charge on telcos

California ahead on Net laws

US tax high tech contractors/employees

Massachusetts may ax ISP tax

Radio report on internet tax

Internet Taxation Bill Vote Delayed

Net taxation resources

California ahead on Net laws

Critical time for Net tax bill

California: no new net taxes 12/98

Internet tax decision delayed 2/10/98

Internet tax free for now 10/98

Adult sites' tax break curbed

Internet tax moratorium inches forward 10/98

6 US States create web tax havens 9/98

Tax ban approved by Senate 8/10/98

No new net taxes in US 7/98

US net tax-free bill adopted 5/98

Clinton: no taxes on net services 1/3/98

Who will bear cost of internet tax moratorium

US Japan agree on duty-free net

US favors no net tax at WTO

Net - not a duty free shop 2/5/98

Net taxation 3/4/98

Electronic commerce conference in Cayman

Story: Tax Revolt? Politicians Take Aim at Internet Taxes

European Union

EU Commission - taxation site

EU proposes web tax - Jun. 8, 2000

EU Commission - taxation site

EU Withdraws Proposals for VAT on Digital Sales

Value Added Tax Articles

Net Taxes Hit Brick Wall In Europe

UK warns EU against tax web

France plans royalties tax on digital devices (1/15/2001)

La France impose une taxe sur les CDs vierges

Tax office set to deploy cyber patrol

Germany Quashes Net Tax Plan

ECLIP - taxation of e-commerce - research paper

Quelle fiscalité sur Internet ?

EU plans online tax rise

Evaluation will be based on a 90 minute open book problem-oriented exam during the afternoon of the last day of the seminar (followed by a half-hour debriefing). Account will also be taken of students' work on assignments (such as the exercises and cases above, and those in the reading materials).