Comparative and Foreign Law Commons^™

Professor Rudolf B. Schlesinger, Mary Kay Kane

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Professor Rudolf B. Schlesinger, James R. Mccall

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Committee On The Regions And The Role Of Regional Governments In The European Union, Naomi Roht-Arriaza

UC Law SF International Law Review

The process of European integration has been accompanied by a movement towards decentralization and devolution of power in many states within the European Union (EU). Subnational governments like L.nder, regions, or autonomous communities are seeking increased participation in the design and implementation of EU policies and in EU-level institutions. This Article explores the role of regions within the EU. It considers why subnational governments have assumed a growing role in European affairs, summarizes the mechanisms available in the most decentralized states for subnational input into EU policy formulation and implementation. It then focuses on the institutional mechanisms devised to allow …

To Judge Between The Nations: Post Cold War Transformations In National Security And Separation Of Powers--Beating Nuclear Swords Into Plowshares In An Imperfectly Competitive World, Antonio F. Perez

UC Law SF International Law Review

This Article describes the conflicting policy interests the U.S. government pursued in relation to its nonproliferation interest, on the one hand, in the security of excess Russian weapons-usable nuclear material and protectionist trade interests, on the other in preventing importation of low-cost Russian uranium and the conditions for privatization of the Government-owned corporation processing uranium for use in nuclear power reactors. The Article draws on recent national security literature to argue that both the nonproliferation and protectionist interests involve national security concerns; it then employs public choice theory to demonstrate that the Executive Branch is more likely than Congress to …

In Tribute, Frederic L. Kirgis

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Future Of The Multilateral Trading System In The Context Of Trips, Frederick M. Abbott

UC Law SF International Law Review

The establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the coming into force of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) creates a new dynamic in the field of the international regulation of intellectual property rights (IPRs). The TRIPS Agreement establishes minimum IPRs protection standards on both the substantive and enforcement levels, and provides a trade-based mechanism for the enforcement of these standards. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) continues to play a major international IPRs role, serving as a forum for the negotiation of new rules, acting to administer IPRs conventions, and providing technical assistance …

Exporting Ethics: Lessons From Russia's Attempt To Regulate Federal Lobbying, Jason D. Kaune

UC Law SF International Law Review

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, U.S. experts have attempted to assist the Russian Federation in developing legal means to control and regulate lobbying. Faced with rampant corruption and the lack of a democratic tradition, the Russian government must address questions concerning lobbying that have troubled the United States for decades.

Mr. Kaune analyzes the 1995 attempt to export the U.S. model of regulating business-government contracts through a Russian federal law on lobbying. Although that attempt failed, the effort provides a number of lessons about both lobbying in Russia and relations between Russia and the United States.

Reclaiming Our Future: International Efforts To Eliminate The Threat Of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Elizabeth B. Baldwin

UC Law SF International Law Review

The evidence is mounting that persistent organic pollutants ("POPs") are causing increasingly detrimental health and environmental effects around the world and pose a major threat to global biodiversity. Exposure to POPs began with the onset of the chemical age over fifty years ago and has increased steadily with the worldwide distribution of pesticides and fertilizers.

As Ms. Baldwin describes, a concerted international effort is needed to deal with this threat, particularly because POPs banned in one country often find their way to another. In response to this worldwide problem, the international community is attempting to create a binding international instrument …

International Law Rules And Historical Evidences Supporting China's Title To The South China Sea Islands, Jianming Shen

UC Law SF International Law Review

The islands in the South China Sea (Nanhai Zhu Dao), most notably the Xisha Islands (Paracels) and the Nansha Islands (Spratlys), have historically been China's territory. The Chinese people sailed to and discovered the chain of the South China Sea islands more than two thousand years ago. The Chinese dynasties started exercising jurisdiction at the latest in the Song era (960-1127 A.D.). China was the first to discover these islands, the first to name them, the first to engage in fishing and other production activities there, and the first to exhibit control and authority over the area. Given the lack …

The Helms-Burton Act And Transnational Legal Process, William S. Dodge

UC Law SF International Law Review

Since its April 1996 passage, the Helms-Burton Act has raised the controversial issue of prescriptive jurisdiction over foreign companies through domestic legislation. The Act has two stated purposes: first, to speed the replacement of the Castro regime with a democratic government in Cuba; and second, to protect the rights of U.S. nationals whose property was expropriated by the Cuban government. Titles I and II address the first stated goal by implementing certain restrictions on the executive office in its relations with and regarding Cuba. Titles IMI and IV address the second stated goal. Title III, in particular, garners the most …

Nafta: The Effect Of The Motor Carrier Provisions On The Future Of The Agreement, Pamela C. Schmidt

UC Law SF International Law Review

The motor carrier provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) provide for gradual implementation that will eventually allow Mexican trucks unfettered access to the U.S. highways. The first phase of the motor carrier provisions were scheduled to go into effect on December 18, 1995. The unilateral delay of the provisions by the Clinton administration has resulted in controversy both in the United States and Mexico. Although the motor carrier provisions are just a small part of NAFTA, they have the ability to undermine the entire Agreement.

This Note will examine the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the NAFTA …

In Tribute, Mary Kay Kane

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

In Tribute, H. G. Prince

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Common Core Approach To European Private Law, Ugo Mattei

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Three Patterns Of Law: Taxonomy And Change In The World's Legal Systems, Ugo Mattei

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Proposal To Reformulate Article 23 Of The Ilc Draft Statute For An International Criminal Court, Sienho Yee

UC Law SF International Law Review

The International Law Commission (ILC) has recently completed a Draft Statute for the world's first International Criminal Court. Article 23 of the Draft Statute attempts to strike a proper balance between the role of the proposed International Criminal Court and that of the United Nations Security Council. This Commentary examines the primary shortcomings of the ILC Draft Statute's suggested Article 23. The Commentary then proposes a reformulation of Article 23 in an attempt to address those shortcomings.

The Historical Origins Of The Alien Tort Statute: A Response To The Originalists, William S. Dodge

UC Law SF International Law Review

The Alien Tort Statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1350, which provides federal jurisdiction over suits by aliens for torts in violation of the law of nations, has been used repeatedly in human rights litigation since Filartiga v. Pefia-Irala, 630 F.2d 876 (2d Cir. 1980). This Article looks at the history of the Alien Tort Statute, tracing its origins to the Alien Tort Clause of the 1789 Judiciary Act and, before that, to a 1781 resolution of the Continental Congress urging States to allow damages suits to redress violations of the law of nations. This history shows that the Alien Tort Statute …

American Wine's New Internationalism: Nafta's Impact On The U.S. Wine Industry In The Established And Emerging Markets Of Canada And Mexico, Sarah E. Richards

UC Law SF International Law Review

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) specifically addresses wine trade issues. Although these provisions constitute only a small part of the overall agreement, their inclusion reflects the important role the wine industry has assumed in the United States, and hints at the increasingly prominent role wine exports will have in future relations among North American countries.

This Note examines the special problems that arise in conjunction with the exportation of wine and other alcoholic beverages from the United States. It goes on to contend, however, that NAFTA's implementation should significantly boost U.S. wine exports to the established but heavily …

From Dictatorship To Democracy: Environmental Reform In Chile, Scott C. Lacunza

UC Law SF International Law Review

At the Summit of the Americas in December 1994, Canada, Mexico, and the United States formally invited Chile to join the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Chile was selected as the first Latin American country to receive an invitation based upon its open market system, stable democratic government, and impressive decade-long economic growth. As the first Latin American country selected to join NAFTA, Chile has been viewed as a model for other developing nations to follow. However, while Chile's economic successes have been lauded as triumphs of the free market approach, little attention has focused on the severe environmental …

Treatment Of Computer Software Under The Foreign Sales Corporation (Fsc) Provisions Of The Internal Revenue Code, David J. Kastanis

UC Law SF International Law Review

In 1984, the United States Congress enacted the Foreign Sales Corporation (FSC) provisions of the Internal Revenue Code in an effort to promote the export of U.S. produced goods by means of exempting from taxation a portion of income derived from the sale, lease or rental of "export property" for use abroad. The Internal Revenue Service has, however, denied the computer software industry access to this benefit by excluding software from the definition of "export property." This Note examines the congressional intent underlying the enactment of the FSC legislation and the evolution of the interpretation of the term "export property" …

Technology Licensing To China: The Influence Of Culture, Anna M. Han

UC Law SF International Law Review

In the 1980s and 1990s, China enacted laws that protect intellectual properties being licensed to China. These laws are fairly complete and conform generally to international standards. Notwithstanding the enactment of domestic legislation and participation in international treaties, and accords, criticism of China's protection of intellectual property rights continues unabated. Foreign owners of technology still doubt China's ability to enforce its laws.

The author provides a brief historical overview of the development of intellectual property laws in China and the negotiations between the United States and China that have resulted in a bilateral accord. In addition, the author explores historical, …

Copyright Protection Of Computer Software In Taiwan And Its Enforcement By The Information Product Anti-Piracy Alliance, George C. C. Chen

UC Law SF International Law Review

Taiwan is one of the fastest growing global participants in the information technology industry. Over the last two decades, Taiwan has become a major market for and producer of computer-related products, including a wide variety of computer software. However, despite its current achievements in this industry, Taiwan continues to be plagued by its international reputation as "The Pirate Kingdom." In response, both the Taiwanese government and private organizations have begun to address this problem by providing foreign persons with greater intellectual property protections. The Taiwanese legislature has bolstered existing copyright protections through a revision of the Taiwanese Copyright Law. In …

Considerations In Representing Western Companies In Technology Transfers To East Asia, Jeffrey J. Blatt

UC Law SF International Law Review

The countries of East Asia have some of the fastest growing economies in the world. The region's need for high technology is evident in the semiconductor, broadcasting, electronics, and telecommunications fields. Lack of high technology infrastructure outside major metropolitan areas lends itself to foreign direct investment, joint ventures, and the procurement of high technology by Asian buyers.

This Paper addresses a number of considerations, issues, pitfalls, and concerns for structuring a successful technology transfer to East Asia, from the perspective of a potential technology transferor or vendor. Specifically, this Paper examines the effect of export controls, tax implications, the Foreign …

The Resolution Of Intellectual Property Disputes Involving East Asian Parties, George W. Coombe Jr.

UC Law SF International Law Review

The resolution of international commercial disputes by conciliation and arbitration has gained considerable momentum throughout East Asia. A strong emphasis has been placed upon the conciliation technique and the historical, social, and cultural derivations pertaining to its use in East Asia.

This Paper examines the pragmatic consideration of software disputes and their resolution using proposed draft agreements between U.S. and Japanese parties in order to enhance appreciation of the conciliation and arbitration perspective in the context of intellectual property.

Enforcement Of Injunctive Relief And Arbitration Awards Concerning Title To And Enforcement Of Intellectual Property Rights In Asia And The Pacific Rim, M. Scott Donahey

UC Law SF International Law Review

Increasingly, companies are licensing their intellectual property rights for use by foreign companies in countries other than those in which the rights were created. Should disputes concerning the license agreements arise, the parties require a neutral forum in which such disputes can be resolved. The traditional neutral forum for international commercial disputes is international arbitration.

Unfortunately, the recognition and enforcement of arbitral agreements and arbitral award varies from country to country. This Paper surveys of Asian and Pacific legal systems to underscore the differences in treatment throughout the region. A working knowledge of how a particular country views the arbitrability …

The Role Of The Judiciary In India's Constitutional Democracy, Maureen Callahan Vandermay

UC Law SF International Law Review

During the period immediately following India's independence from British rule, the Indian framers promulgated a Constitution which was designed to take account of India's unique circumstances. The Constitution both ensured the legal and social equality of all Indians and afforded the Indian Parliament considerable power to alter the Constitution in order to take account of changed political circumstances. Inevitably, shortly after the Constitution's adoption the Parliament began employing its powers of amendment to limit the effect of those provisions designed to promote equality. The Indian Judiciary responded, however, with various efforts to safeguard the constitutionally-protected liberties from abrogation by Parliament. …

Searching For The Perfect Solution: International Dispute Resolution And The New World Trade Organization, Azar M. Khansari

UC Law SF International Law Review

This Note discusses the effects of the Final Act Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round on resolving international trade disputes. Through a comparison of the old GATT system of dispute resolution and the new system created by the World Trade Organization, this Note highlights some of GATT's major flaws and analyzes the WTO's attempts to "fix" these flaws. The creation of the Dispute Settlement Understanding, in particular, seeks to fix problems such as Contracting Parties' lack of compliance by interjecting principles of legalism into an arena historically guided by principles of diplomacy and compromise. An analysis of this new …

Progress On The Environmental Front: The Regulation Of Industry And Development In India, Armin Rosencranz, Kathleen D. Yurchak

UC Law SF International Law Review

Since 1991 India has been encouraging large foreign investment in its economy to compete with its industrialized counterparts in the global marketplace. Although India's current economic reform has led to increased industrial investment and aggressive development, it has also been marked by substantial threats to the environment. India's government now faces the difficult task of juggling investment and economic reform with the desire to avoid environmental degradation.

This Article explores the relationship between economic development and environmental protection in India. In doing so, the Article highlights the difficulties facing any newly industrialized developing country seeking to enter the world market …

Counsel For The Situation: The Latin Notary, A Historical And Comparative Model, Pedro A. Malavet

UC Law SF International Law Review

Compared to the legal profession found in the United States, in Latin countries an impartial counsel who advises all parties to a transaction is located at the top of the legal hierarchy and is referred to as the Latin notary. The Latin notary is granted exclusive power to perform certain legal functions such as memorialization of transactions. The Latin notary combines the competence traditionally associated with a public official and the discretion and responsibility of a private legal professional. For these reasons, the Latin notary is quite different from notaries public in the United States. The Latin notary owes a …

Continuing Economic Reform In The People's Republic Of China: Bankruptcy Legislation Leads The Way, Shirley S. Cho

UC Law SF International Law Review

Critics view the 1986 Enterprise Bankruptcy Law (Bankruptcy Law) of the People's Republic of China as an ineffective piece of legislation passed more for symbolic ends than as a means to deal with systemic economic problems plaguing China. However, the Bankruptcy Law has proven to be one of the most pivotal pieces of legislation in modern Chinese history and has served as the main impetus for wide-reaching reform in major sectors of the Chinese economy.

This Note examines the debate surrounding the Bankruptcy Law from its inception, its controversial substantive provisions, its unsuccessful implementation, and finally its positive repercussions in …