A Study on the Inclusion of Standard Terms under the CISG

CISG상 약관의 계약편입에 관한 연구

It becomes a common feature of business practices in International Trade to use a standard terms for the formation of their contracts. However, because of differences in legal systems, business practices and so on in their own countries, there have been many conflicts and disputes happening between parties concerned in International Trade. The CISG, which has long been used as the governing law in many cases of International Trade, could not be free from those conflicting issues in its usage and application. This study analyzes the "Black Letter Rules" which was adopted by CISG Advisory Council in 2013 to provide an effective way of resolving the conflicting issues regarding the inclusion of standard terms in International Trade Contracts under the CISG. This study scrutinizes, the relevant rules and requirements for the inclusion of standard terms into a contract. It also deals with the offeror's duty of making clear reference to the standard terms, transmitting the contents of standard terms to the other party. As the other rules for the inclusion of standard terms, this study reviews the principle of denying the inclusion of standard terms after the formation of contracts, exclusion of surprising or unusual terms, preference of individually negotiated terms to the standard terms, contra preferentum rule and preference of the "knock-out rule" to "last-shot rule" in resolving the issue of so called, "Battle of Forms." Lastly, on the basis of analyzed opinion, this study suggests the practical implications for the people working at International Trade-related business sector to facilitate International Trade.

본 연구는 국제무역거래에 있어 빈번하게 사용되는 약관의 계약편입과 관련하여 CISG 자문위원회의 공식 의견인 Black Letter Rule을 중심으로 고찰한다. 그 주요 내용으로 약관의 계약편입 관련 적용규정과 요건을 상세히 고찰하고, 약관의 계약편입을 의도한 청약상 참조표시 및 약관내용의 명확성 요건을 살펴보도록 한다. 이와 더불어 약관의 계약편입 관련 기타 원칙으로서 계약체결 후 약관편입의 배제, 의외조항배제, 개별약정우선, 작성자 불이익 원칙 및 서식분쟁에 대하여 살펴본다. 이와 더불어 본 연구는 약관의 계약편입 관련 기존 판례 및 학설을 검토한 후 이를 CISG 자문위원회의 공식의견과 상호 비교 검토함으로 약관의 계약편입 관련 원칙을 재정립하고 이에 따른 실무적 시사점을 도출하고자 한다.