Termination of long-term franchise agreements: guidance from the Dutch Supreme Court
Dutch law continues to treat the termination of long-term franchise agreements as a matter requiring substantive fairness, not merely contractual compliance.
Defining the boundaries of the Dutch Franchise Act: four recent judgments
Looking at these four decisions together, several broader trends in Dutch franchise case law up to 2026 can be observed…
The Dutch Franchise Act: from transitional obligations to ongoing compliance
The key lesson is that compliance with the Dutch Franchise Act is not merely a contractual exercise, but an ongoing process that requires attention to transparency, reasonableness and cooperation throughout the franchise relationship.
The abuse of economic dependence in franchise agreements: Decision of the Italian Supreme Court, June 4, 2025, n. 15023
In decision n. 15023 of 4 June 2025, the Italian Supreme Court clarifies that abuse of economic dependence in franchise agreements must be assessed not only on contractual terms, but also on the broader economic context, including whether the franchisee had real market alternatives.
Franchising agreement: Decision of Tribunale Di Nola (Neaples), 28.02.2025, n. 659
In a franchising agreement, the absence of a detailed specification of know-how does not automatically render the agreement null and void when this element does not constitute, in the intentions of the parties, a necessary and essential component of the agreement.
Belgium – New protections for franchisees: what will change in 2025
From March 2025, franchisees in Belgium—especially in the food retail sector—will benefit from stronger legal safeguards. New rules mandate clearer pre-contractual disclosures and ban unfair terms, such as forced operation at a loss or abrupt termination. The reform aims to rebalance franchisor-franchisee relationships and promote fairer, more transparent agreements.
Franchisor Liability for Aggressive Pricing Practices of Franchisee
Franchising and competition law are a complex branch of distribution law. This article puts a spotlight on a respective German case of unfair competition, which was recently published. The decision deals with the liability of franchisors for unfair commercial practices carried out by their franchisees.
