Plenary debate dated June 9, 2020 in the Lower House of the Franchise Act – dated June 10, 2020 – mr. AW Dolphin
On 9 June 2020, the legislative proposal for the Franchise Act was discussed in plenary in the House of Representatives. An amendment and a motion have been tabled.
Amendment by members Palland and Aartsen on mandatory legal character only for franchisees established in the Netherlands. This amendment provides that the Franchise Act may not be deviated from to the detriment of franchisees operating in the Netherlands. Deviation, on the other hand, is permitted to the detriment of franchisees operating outside the Netherlands. Therefore, even if a choice of law for Dutch law has been made between the parties (where the franchisee operates outside the Netherlands), that choice does not preclude agreements that deviate from the Franchise Act being made in the franchise agreement to the detriment of that franchisee.
Motion by member Aartsen on a consultative body of franchisors and franchisees. This motion requests the government to bring representatives of franchisors and franchisees together in a periodic consultation body and to encourage them to come to model agreements and agreements for the implementation of the open standards from the Franchise Act.
The bill has received a generally positive reception and appears to meet with little resistance from members of the House of Representatives.
The (uncorrected) report of the plenary debate in the House of Representatives on the Bill to the Franchise Act can be read via the following link: https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstuks/plenaire_verslagen/detail/10ef6de4-abce-44d3- 871b-a8537cd7e282#ide038e8f4
The Chairman has indicated that the bill, the amendment and the motion will be voted on next week.
mr. AW Dolphijn – franchise lawyer
Ludwig & Van Dam Franchise attorneys, franchise legal advice. Want
you respond? Go to
dolphijn@ludwigvandam.nl
Other messages
The right of the franchisor to sell its franchise organization to a
Many franchise agreements contain a provision stating that the franchisor reserves the right
Locations on the move
There is a lot of construction going on in the Netherlands. New shopping centers are springing up here and there. Old ones are modernized and renovated.
Making changes by the franchisee to the
In addition to a franchise agreement, the franchisee has often also concluded a rental agreement with the franchisor.
Mandatory franchise council?
Not in all cases does the franchise agreement contain a reference to the franchise council or a comparable body.
Unauthorized Dispute Resolutions Within Franchise Organizations
Franchise agreements occasionally contain dispute resolutions that grant powers to the franchisee(s), the franchise council and/or a franchise association.
Fictional employment issues
A permanent point of attention in franchise relationships should at all times be the question of whether in the franchise relationship