Implications of Blockchain-Based Smart Contracts on Contract Law

Smart contracts are the most advanced blockchain applications. They can also be used in the contractual domain for the encoding and automatic execution of contract terms. Smart contracts already existed before the blockchain, but they take advantage of the characteristics of that technology. Namely, the decentralised and immutable characters of the blockchain determine that no single contracting party can control, modify, or interrupt the execution of smart contracts. As every new phenomenon, blockchain-based smart contracts have attracted the attention of institutions. For example, in its Resolution of 3 October 2018 on distributed ledger technologies and blockchain, the European Parliament has stressed the need to undertake an in-depth assessment of the legal implications,starting from the analysis of existing legal frameworks. Indeed, the present research thesis aims to verify how blockchain-based smart contracts fit into contract law. To this end, the analysis starts from the most discussed and relevant aspects and develops further considerations. Before that, it provides a detailed description and clarifications about the characteristics, the functioning, and the development of the technology, which is an essential starting point for a high-level quality legal analysis. It takes into considerations already existing rules concerning the use of technology in the life cycle of contracts, from vending machines to computable contracts, and verifies its applicability to blockchain-based smart contracts. The work does not limit to consider the mere technology, but some concrete scenarios of adoption of blockchain-based smart contracts in the contractual domain. Starting from the latter, it focuses on the implications of blockchain-based smart contracts on contract formation, contract performance, and applicable law and jurisdiction.

A importância do planeamento e orçamentação nas empreitadas de obras de instalações mecânicas

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Yksityisen pysäköinninvalvonnan laintulkinnalliset ongelmat

Tutkielman tavoitteena on paneutua yksityisen pysäköinninvalvonnan lain-tulkinnallisiin ongelmiin Suomessa. Lähtökohtana kysymyksenasettelulle on kansallinen lainsäädäntö, oikeustapaukset, sopimusoikeudelliset peri-aatteet ja oikeuskirjallisuus. Julkinen pysäköinninvalvonta on Suomessa poliisin ja kuntien vastuulla. Suomessa ei ole voimassa yksityistä pysäköinninvalvontaa koskevaa omaa lakia. Yksityisen pysäköinninvalvonnan on nykyisellään katsottu si-sältävän merkittävää julkisen vallan käyttöä, jolloin se tekee siitä perustus-lain vastaista. Samalla yksityinen pysäköinninvalvonta voidaan kuitenkin nähdä sopimukseen perustuvana, laillisena, liiketoimena. Näkökulmien pohdinta tuo esiin laintulkinnallisia ongelmia sekä ongelmia, jotka liittyvät sopimuksen syntymisen kriteereihin.

La responsabilité précontractuelle, perspectives québécoise et internationale

Ce mémoire aborde la question de la responsabilité précontractuelle en regardant son incidence en droit québécois ainsi qu'en droit international. Plus précisément, il s'agit de savoir comment est traitée la rupture des négociations lorsqu'aucun avant-contrat n'a été rédigé à cet effet. Afin de pouvoir déterminer ses grands paramètres, le texte aborde dans un premier temps la nature de cette responsabilité. N'étant pas codifiée en droit québécois et ne faisant l'objet d'aucune spécification dans les grands instruments internationaux, cette nature doit être associée à l'un des deux grands régimes de responsabilité soit: contractuel ou extracontractuel. L'importance de cette détermination n'est pas simplement théorique puisqu'elle a une influence directe sur plusieurs éléments comme la prescription ou le droit international privé. Au Québec, la doctrine et la jurisprudence ont choisi d'associer la responsabilité précontractuelle au domaine extracontractuel. Ainsi, elle devra suivre le modèle classique de faute, dommage et lien causal. Cependant, en droit international, la question de la nature reste encore nébuleuse compte tenu de la diversité des membres qui composent les comités d'élaboration des normes. Tous s'entendent pourtant sur un concept fondamental entourant la responsabilité précontractuelle : la bonne foi. Elle est au centre de la faute et dicte une éthique des pourparlers. Ainsi, dans un deuxième temps, la mise en œuvre de la responsabilité est abordée. De cette notion de bonne foi découlent de nombreux devoirs que les parties négociantes se doivent de respecter. Ils sont de création jurisprudentielle et demandent une étude au cas par cas. La liberté contractuelle étant le principe de base dans la formation des contrats, les tribunaux québécois sanctionnent rarement les cas de rupture des négociations. C'est ce principe de liberté qui empêche les pays de common law d'accepter le concept de bonne foi et de responsabilité précontractuelle, même s'ils sanctionnent, par l'intermédiaire de mécanismes, les comportements fautifs dans les pourparlers. Finalement, les dommages et les intérêts pouvant être réclamés varient. Au Québec et en France, autant les pertes subies que les gains manqués sont indemnisés tandis que les instruments internationaux sont plus réticents pour accorder un montant pour le gain manqué. Bref, la responsabilité précontractuelle est en pleine construction et son utilisation devant les tribunaux est encore peu fréquente.

Modelling the construction projects using plans of work

An overview of organization in the construction industry is identified from plans of work published in the UK. This provides a basis for identifying the essential steps through which any construction project must pass. It is shown that all construction projects pass through a set of stages of work, consisting of inception, feasibility, scheme design, detail design, contract formation, construction and commissioning. Although there may be changes to the sequence and importance of these stages, their identification helps in making judgements about organizational structure on construction projects.

Erro invalidante da dogmática do negócio jurídico

A regulamentação das hipóteses de erro no Direito Obrigacional foi objeto de profunda alteração em razão da nova redação atribuída à matéria pelo novo Código Civil e em razão do novo cenário desenhado pelo princípio da manutenção do contrato. A presente dissertação trata das diferenças entre a regulamentação do erro em face do Código anterior (1916 – “CC/16”, artigos 86 a 113) e do novo Código (2002 – “CC/02”, artigos 138 a 166). Além disso, a dissertação trata sobre as conseqüências advindas do desfazimento do negócio jurídico por erro, inclusive sobre eventual indenização. As questões propostas e que subjazem esta dissertação são: em quais situações a parte pode requerer o desfazimento por erro? A existência de erro, somente, é suficiente para que se declare inválido o contrato? E quais são as conseqüências da invalidação do negócio jurídico? Há algum dever indenizatório? As respostas a essas questões serão umas, se analisadas a partir das regras do Código Civil de 1916, e outras, se respondidas com base nas regras do Código Civil de 2002. A dissertação analisa o fato de, em regra, a doutrina apontar como modificação do novo Código Civil a introdução do princípio da proteção da confiança daquele que não agiu em erro. Na verdade, no entanto, essa proteção já era implementada na vigência do Código Civil anterior (CC/16), por meio do dever de indenizar. Portanto, a proteção da outra parte não é novidade introduzida pelo novo Código Civil (CC/02). A tese exposta nesta dissertação aponta para o fato de que, além da proteção da outra parte, a lei protege o contrato em si, como uma forma de proteger o comércio, ou seja, todos os demais contratos que dependem dele, direta ou indiretamente. E essa proteção é colocada em prática ao se dificultar o desfazimento do negócio jurídico por erro. Nesse sentido, o novo Código Civil inovou ao acrescentar um outro requisito para o desfazimento do negócio por erro: a sua recognoscibilidade.

The Generational contract in the family : explaining regime differences in financial transfers from parents to children in Europe

The exchange of social and economic support between the generationsis one of the main pillars of both family life and welfare systems. Thedebate on how to reform the generational contract is still truncated, however, by focusing on its public dimension only, especially on pensions and health care provisions. For a full account, the transfer of resources between adult generations in the family needs to be included as well. In our previous research we have shown that intergenerationalexchange is more likely to take place but less intense in the Nordicwelfare regime than in the Continental and Southern ones. In thepresent paper we analyze the social mechanisms that create and explain this nexus between patterns of intergenerational transfers and welfare regimes. The notion that Southern European family support networksare stronger and more effective than those of Continental and Northern European countries is only partially confirmed. In Southern (and partly in Continental) countries, children are mostly supported by means of co-residence with their parents till their complete economicindependence. However, once they have left the parental home thereare fewer transfers; support tends to be restricted to children who have special needs (such as for the formation of their own family), and depends more on their parents’ resources. In the Nordic countries, in contrast, transfers are less driven by children’s needs and parentalresources.

Development of Border Economic Zones in Thailand: Expansion of Border Trade and Formation of Border Economic Zones

In the wake of economic globalization and development in Thailand, movement of people and commodities at the Thai borders is also becoming pronounced. Economic interdependence between Thailand and neighboring countries is growing through border customhouses. As a policy, Thailand is trying to stimulate trade and investment with neighboring countries following the ACMECS (Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy) scheme. In this report, first, movement of people and goods at the borders will be examined. Second, clarification of where and how development is proceeding will be presented. Last, this study will attempt to review the perspectives of policies on neighboring countries after Thaksin.

Analysis of the Iberian Power Forward Price Formation

The price formation of the Iberian Energy Derivatives Market-the power futures market-starting in July 2006, is assessed until November 2011, through the evolution of the difference between forward and spot prices in the delivery period (“ex-post forward risk premium”) and the comparison with the forward generation costs from natural gas (“clean spark spread”). The premium tends to be positive in all existing mechanisms (futures, Over-the-Counter and auctions for catering part of the last resort supplies). Since year 2011, the values are smaller due to regulatorily recognized prices for coal power plants. The power futures are strongly correlated with European gas prices. The spreads built with prompt contracts tend also to be positive. The biggest ones are for the month contract, followed by the quarter contract and then by the year contract. Therefore, gas fired generation companies can maximize profits trading with contracts of shorter maturity.

Graph transformations for composite formation,

"C00-1018-1195."

Consistent properties of composite formation under a binary relation,

"Supported by Contract AT (11-1)-1018 with the U.S. Atomic Engery Commission."