VIEHBCK BREITER SCHENK NAU Litigation Strategies R E
VIEHBÖCK BREITER SCHENK & NAU Litigation Strategies R E C H T S A N W Ä L T E Litigation Strategies What happens when there is no choice of forum Gustav Breiter IDI-conference Torino 2008
VIEHBÖCK BREITER SCHENK & NAU Litigation Strategies R E C H T S A N W Ä L T E - Jurisdiction clause: exclusive jurisdiction (art 23 ECregulation 44/2001) - If there is no clause: art 5 regulation 44/2001 applies Party which supplies the service: place of jurisdiction Who supplies the service in the legal sense?
VIEHBÖCK BREITER SCHENK & NAU Litigation Strategies R E C H T S A N W Ä L T E Agency contracts: The place of the agent´s service is relevant Sales activity is the supplied service practical advantages, settlements supporting also out-of-court
VIEHBÖCK BREITER SCHENK & NAU Litigation Strategies R E C H T S A N W Ä L T E Distribution contracts (I): Distributor has to promote business, build up the market, maintain after-sale-service etc. Supplier delivers the goods In my opinion: place of the distributor´s activity is relevant, he is the party rendering the service
VIEHBÖCK BREITER SCHENK & NAU Litigation Strategies R E C H T S A N W Ä L T E Distribution contracts (II): Relevant jurisdiction: Austrian Supreme Court (February 17, 2005 – 6 Ob 148/04 i): broker may claim before Austrian courts under art 5 No jurisdiction of the Supreme Court on distribution until now Germany: Oberlandesgericht Köln (January 12, 2007 – 19 U 11/07): art 5 applies for agents and distributors Other countries: unclear situation acc. to IDI-reports
VIEHBÖCK BREITER SCHENK & NAU Litigation Strategies R E C H T S A N W Ä L T E Franchise: Franchisee does the sales activity, support by the franchisor should not be “service” in the legal sense No Austrian jurisdiction German literature referring to art 50 EC: wide definition: “service rendered by undertakings against payment”
VIEHBÖCK BREITER SCHENK & NAU Litigation Strategies R E C H T S A N W Ä L T E Thank you very much for your attention! Office Vienna Office Mödling Jasomirgottstrasse 6 Bahnhofsplatz 1/I/5 A-1010 Wien A-2340 Mödling Tel +43 1 535 24 53 Tel +43 2236 22 050 Fax +43 1 535 28 10 Fax +43 2236 49 239 www. vbsn. at office@vbsn. at
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