在英语世界中,可能没有比法律英语Legal English更让人头疼和费解的了。而在法律英语中,合同英语Contract
English可能是其中最为重要的一个分支,因为在人类社会“从身份到契约”梅因语的运动变化中,合同逐渐成为主宰人们生活全部内容的重要组成部分,这一点在英语国家中体现得异常明显。原本,世界各个民族的合同可能得到均一雷同式的发展,但历史却不依人的主观意志为转移而突出发展了英语世界的合同制度,其结果之一是造就了令其他民族,甚至是以英语为母语的本民族都难以理解的合同英语。作为一种专门用途英语,合同英语经过几百年的沉淀,已经发展成为一门博大精深、蔚为大观的独立学科。在法律英语世界,无论是法学的学院教育还是职业再培训,以合同英语为中心的法律文书写作书籍早已是汗牛充栋;学者们不厌其烦地讲授合同英语的理论与实践问题。其原因大概在于,英美国家法律制度历来重视保护个人利益,而且个人利益保护的最好方法就是订立合理有利的合同;换言之,这是英美人士骨子里“合同必守”A
contract is a
contract意识的体现。相比之下,当代中国大陆,却鲜见有专门讨论合同英语或英语合同的专业书籍出版。这种现象可能有以下三个原因:第一,从历史角度看,清末变法以来,仁人志士均重视从宏观宪政层面上改造中国,即重视变法图强,而对于具体和细微层面上的“合同设计”问题无暇顾及。第二,从传统角度看,新中国建立后的相当一段时间内,法制传统因袭前苏联,故对来自英美的合同法及合同语言等问题自然无法展开研究。第三,从经济体制角度看,实行了几十年的计划经济本身就具有一种排斥民事主体之间订立私人合同的特征。最后,从法律实践角度讲,相当长的时间以来,人们想到法律时首先就会联想到法律部门,即我们俗称的“公检法”;而“公检法”部门自然不会有订立和研究私人合同的内在要求。所以,长期以来大陆法学界不重视“法律英语”和“合同英语”的研究是不足为奇的。
THIS CONTRACT “Contract” is made in [place], on this day of [], 201[] by
and between [Party A name], [Party A entity form] established and existing under
the laws of [Party A jurisdiction of incorporation], with its [registered
address][principle place of business] at [address] hereinafter referred to as
“Party A”, and [Party B name], [Party B entity form] organized and existing
under the law of [Party B jurisdiction of incorporation] with its [registered
address][principle place of business] at [address] hereinafter referred to as
“Party B”. Party A and Party B shall hereinafter be referred to individually as
a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.
If a Party “intending Transferor” intends to sell or otherwise transfer
collectively referred to in this Provision as “Transfer” all or part of its
equity interest in the JV Company collectively referred to in this Provision as
“Transferred Equity Interest”, it shall first send a written notice “Transfer
Notice” to the other two Parties, stating its intention to make the transfer,
the quantity of the Transferred Equity Interest, the conditions for purchase
thereof and the identity of the proposed transferee.
Party A hereby agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend Party B from
and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, expenses including
reasonable attorneys fees, or damages collectively “Liabilities” asserted
against Party B by a third party to the extent such Liabilities result from the
infringement of the Works delivered on any third partys trade secret,
trademark, service mark, copyright or patent issued as of the date of this
Agreement collectively, an “Intellectual Property Right”; provided that Party
B i promptly notifies Party A of any third party claim subject to
indemnification hereunder, ii gives Party A the right to control and direct
the preparation of a defense, the defense and any settlement of any such claim,
iii gives full cooperation to Party A for the defense of same, and iv
complies with Party As direction to cease any use of the Works which, in Party
As sole judgment, is likely to be ruled an infringement on a third partys
Intellectual Property Right.