Franchising In China & Elsewhere in Asia Presented by: Philip F. Zeidman DLA Piper US LLP.
-
Upload
stella-white -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
0
Transcript of Franchising In China & Elsewhere in Asia Presented by: Philip F. Zeidman DLA Piper US LLP.
Franchising In China & Elsewhere in Asia
Presented by:
Philip F. Zeidman
DLA Piper US LLP
Laws Applicable to FranchisingAugust 2007
Blue = Disclosure LawGreen = Relationship Law Red = Disclosure & Relationship Laws Black = Other
The AmericasBarbadosBrazilCanada Alberta Ontario Prince Edward Island MexicoUnited States Federal Several StatesVenezuela
EuropeEU
Within EU Belgium Estonia France Lithuania Italy Spain Sweden
Non-EU Albania Belarus Croatia Georgia Moldova Romania Russia Ukraine
Central AsiaKazakhstanKyrgyzstan
AsiaChinaJapanMacauSouth KoreaTaiwanVietnam
The Middle EastSaudi Arabia
South PacificAustraliaIndonesiaMalaysia
Does Not Include:
• Codes of conduct which do not provide for governmental or private enforcement, even if (e.g., South Africa) promulgated under governmental authority.
• Bodies of law (e.g. competition, intellectual property, etc.) which also cover franchising, unless explicitly mentioned.
4854521
Blue = Disclosure LawGreen = Relationship Law Red = Disclosure & Relationship Laws Black = Other
Central AsiaKazakhstanKyrgyzstan
AsiaChinaJapanMacauSouth KoreaTaiwanVietnam
Does Not Include:
• Codes of conduct which do not provide for governmental or private enforcement, even if (e.g., South Africa) promulgated under governmental authority.
• Bodies of law (e.g. competition, intellectual property, etc.) which also cover franchising, unless explicitly mentioned.
South PacificAustraliaIndonesiaMalaysia
Laws in Asia Applicable to Franchising August 2007
www.franchise.org
Asia: Relationship Laws Only
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
www.franchise.org
• Taiwan
Asia: Disclosure Laws Only
www.franchise.org
• Australia• China• Indonesia• Japan
• Macau• Malaysia• South Korea• Vietnam
Asia: Disclosure & Relationship Laws
www.franchise.org
• China• Indonesia
• Malaysia• Vietnam
Asia: Disclosure & Registration Laws
www.franchise.org
The Development Of The Development Of FranchisingFranchisingIn ChinaIn China
www.franchise.org
The Growth of Services
www.franchise.orgSource: China Chain Store & Franchise Association
Number of Franchise Businesses in China (2000-2005)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Number of Franchises Number of Units per Franchise
www.franchise.org
Foreign Franchisors
www.franchise.org
Franchise Law In China:Franchise Law In China:How Did It Come About?How Did It Come About?
www.franchise.org
• Fraud
• Direct selling
• Fear of social unrest
www.franchise.org
• The Franchise Rules (1997)• The Franchise Measures (2005)
The Predecessors of theNew Franchise Regulation
www.franchise.org
• Several Agencies involved (MOFCOM, Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, State Administration of Industry and Commerce)
• Closed and secretive process
The Rule Making Processof the Regulation (2005-2007)
www.franchise.org
• The revised “two plus one” rule
• Franchisor’s outlets do not have to be within China
Qualifications
www.franchise.org
• The information provided by the franchisor shall be true, accurate and complete; and
• Shall not conceal the relevant information; and
• Shall not provide any false information
Disclosure
www.franchise.org
• Name• Trademark• Fees• Prices (products,
services, equipments)• Training• Operations plan
• Investment Budget
• Existing Franchisees
• Financial Reports• Litigations/
Arbitrations• Illegal Operation• Other
Disclosure
www.franchise.org
• Provide a more detailed explanation of what is to be disclosed for each of the 12 items
• Other provisions
Implementation Guidelines
www.franchise.org
• Cover items which must be covered in the agreement between franchisor and franchisee
• In general, do not describe provision in detail
• The provision that the franchisor bear joint and several liabilities for injuries significant, but not included
Relationship Provisions
www.franchise.org
• Franchisor is required to register within 15 days after the execution of its first franchise agreement
• Foreign Franchisors should register with MOFCOM
• Franchisor must update certain information annually
• Government is required to register a franchisor within 10 days after receipt
Registration
www.franchise.org
• “Cooling- off period”
• Existing franchisors exempted from “two plus one” requirement
Features Worth Noting
www.franchise.org
• Interaction with general contract law
• The status of the franchise measures
• Cross-border Franchising
• Trademark law’s effects on franchise operations in China
Other Related Issues
www.franchise.org
• Other laws (anti monopoly, dispute resolution, foreign exchange)
• The discretion of government officials
• The role of the CCFA
Other Related Issues
www.franchise.org
Questions For The FutureQuestions For The Future
www.franchise.org
• Business And Cultural Questions
• Legal Questions
www.franchise.org
Conclusion