Foreign jurisdiction clause: the indivisibility of the dispute is not sufficient to set it aside

Court of Cassation, First Civil Chamber, 8 October 2025, No. 23-16.756 (partial cassation). The Court of Cassation reiterates a principle of private international law: a validly stipulated foreign jurisdiction clause is binding on French courts, even when the dispute is indivisible between several defendants. In other words, the special jurisdiction of the court of the …

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Tortious nature of direct action brought by the sub-purchaser against the manufacturer

In two rulings of 28 May 2025 (No. 23-13.687 and No. 23-20.341), the First Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation clarified the legal classification applicable under European private international Law to direct action by the sub-purchaser against the manufacturer of a defective product, affirming the tortious nature of this action in accordance with the Rome II Regulation (No. 864/2007).

Jurisdiction clause in the Terms of Use: no French mandatory law for Meta

Cass. 1st civ., 2 April 2025, no. 23-12.384 In a ruling dated 2 April 2025, the Court of Cassation confirmed the effectiveness of a jurisdiction clause included in the terms and conditions of use (TCU) of a professional Instagram account. The Court of Cassation dismissed Article 1171 of the Civil Code, a French protective provision …

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Sudden termination: the CJEU asked about the contractual or tortious nature of the action

Cass. 1st civ., 2 April 2025, no. 23-11.456 In an important ruling on 2 April 2025, the First Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation decided to suspend its decision in a dispute over the sudden termination of established commercial relations, in order to refer a preliminary question to the Court of Justice of the …

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Liability for cartel: need to prove damage

Court of Cassation, Commercial, Financial and Economic Chamber, ruling of 26 February 2025, appeal no. 23-18.599 In a ruling dated 26 February 2025, the commercial chamber of the Court of Cassation confirmed the strict requirement to prove damage resulting from an anti-competitive agreement before the entry into force of Article L481-7 of the Commercial Code. …

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No breach of a non-competition clause in a franchise agreement for preparatory acts

Cass. com., 19 March 2025, no. 23-22.925, published in the Bulletin The commercial chamber of the Court of Cassation clarifies the scope of non-competition clauses in franchise agreements, while sanctioning an error of law committed by the court of appeal on the effects of a judicial liquidation during the proceedings. The facts: franchise in the …

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Debt and cash management agreement: no automatic transfer of debt between affiliated companies

Cass. com., 12 March 2025, No. 23-23.961 In a ruling dated 12 March 2025, the commercial chamber of the Court of Cassation reiterated that the implementation of a centralised cash pooling agreement, even between companies in the same group, does not in itself allow the transfer of debt from one company to another, unless expressly …

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Termination of established business relationships in sport: absence of sudden termination in the event of a gradual decrease in activity during a long notice period

Cass. com., 19 March 2025, No. 23-23.507, published in the Bulletin In a ruling dated 19 March 2025, the commercial chamber of the Court of Cassation confirmed the absence of a suddentermination in the context of a progressive decrease in business volume over a very long notice period. It thus provides an important clarification on …

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Sudden termination of commercial relations: French international jurisdiction based on the tortious nature of the action

Cass. 1st civ., 12 March 2025, no. 23-22.051 In a ruling dated 12 March 2025, the First Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation overturned a decision by the Paris Court of Appeal which had declined the jurisdiction of the French courts in a case of sudden termination of established commercial relations. It reaffirmed an …

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Sudden termination of commercial relations: competitive tendering and economic dependence

Court of Cassation, Commercial Chamber, Judgment No. 96 FS-B of 26 February 2025, Appeal No. M 23-50.012 The commercial chamber of the Court of Cassation provides clarification on the starting point of the notice period in the event of the termination of a commercial relationship through competitive tendering and confirms its definition of economic dependence. …

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