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LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Den goda internationella seden - En komparativ studie med anledning av Omsättningsmålet

Jacobson, Jonathan LU (2025) JURM02 20252
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
Lojalitet är ett begrepp som har funnits sedan urminnes tider, såväl från en
moralisk synpunkt som en juridisk. Redan under romarriket fanns det krav på
lojalitet gentemot huvudmän av differentierade slag. Vidare, under människo
historiens utveckling, har lojalitet kontinuerligt spelat en central roll. Moti
veringen, till ovan nämnda, är behovet av att samhället upprätthåller grund
läggande etiska och moraliska normer. Principen, gällande lojalitet, finns ut
vecklad i en mängd rättsordningar och den har erkänts på det mest internat
ionella planet, nämligen CISG. Trots att alla länder ej har ratificerat lagen, får
den genomslagskraft genom gränsöverskridande handel där någon av par
terna har sitt verksamhetsställe i ett land som... (More)
Lojalitet är ett begrepp som har funnits sedan urminnes tider, såväl från en
moralisk synpunkt som en juridisk. Redan under romarriket fanns det krav på
lojalitet gentemot huvudmän av differentierade slag. Vidare, under människo
historiens utveckling, har lojalitet kontinuerligt spelat en central roll. Moti
veringen, till ovan nämnda, är behovet av att samhället upprätthåller grund
läggande etiska och moraliska normer. Principen, gällande lojalitet, finns ut
vecklad i en mängd rättsordningar och den har erkänts på det mest internat
ionella planet, nämligen CISG. Trots att alla länder ej har ratificerat lagen, får
den genomslagskraft genom gränsöverskridande handel där någon av par
terna har sitt verksamhetsställe i ett land som gjort det. Trots det breda till
lämpningsområdet finns det ingen legaldefinition av begreppet god sed, som
det i artikel 7(1) CISG benämns. På grund av avsaknaden är denna uppsats
ägnad för att undersöka, både med hjälp av praxis och doktrin, vad begreppet
i realiteten innebär samt vilken påverkan och effekt detta får på kommersiella
avtalsförhållanden. På grund av det sistnämnda kommer uppsatsen att under
söka hur juridiken medför reella konsekvenser med anledning av principen.
God sed har länge setts som en allmän princip som vardera avtalsparten måste
tillgodose när det gäller internationella kontraktsförhållanden av kommersiell
karaktär. Vanligen är det en klausul som uttryckligen står villkorat i kontrak
tet men någon ytterligare beskrivning kring vad parter rent praktiskt måste
göra, eller avstå från att göra, tenderar till att ej stå med. I svensk rätt kan en
parallell dras till lojalitetsprincipen som erkänts vara en allmän rättsprincip,
som dock enbart gäller i Sverige och därmed ej per automatik när CISG till
lämpas. En undersökning kring hur dessa två principer skiljer sig samtidigt
som hur de påminner om varandra kan därför bidra till att tillge god sed någon
form av enhetlig definition. Kontraktsförhållanden tenderar att reglera risk
fördelning mellan parter. Därför är det av stor vikt att en tillämpning av denna
princip ej omfördelarar denna risk på ett allt för stort sätt. En part som åbero
par ett avsteg mot principen vill därmed ändra avtalet på så sätt att riskfördel
ningen kommer att förflyttas. Därför får domstolar bedöma om det är ända
målsenligt och rimligt att fylla ut med denna princip. När en domstol dock de
facto får fylla ut avtalet och således förflytta riskfördelningen är ej klart.
En verksam jurist som i väldigt många år arbetat med kommersiella avtals
förhållanden och som intervjuas i arbetets gång påvisar, precis som en mängd
doktrin, att en princip om god sed finns samt ska finnas. Däremot med tilläg
get att principen kan medföra väldigt stora och oönskade konsekvenser. In
tervjupersonen framhåller att denna riskförflyttning möjligen ej ska åläggas
domstolen såvida det inte uppenbart är ett orimligt kontraktsförhållande. An
knytning härav görs, av intervjupersonen, till ett välkänt svenskt mål “Om
sättningsmålet” och hur en part med anledning av brist mot lojalitet kan åläg
gas ett ekonomiskt skadestånd. Det är dock inte särskilt vanligt förekom
mande att parter tvistar om god sed varför praxiskompendiet är relativt stramt.
Mot bakgrund av detta, visar studien att begreppet ej har någon vidare legal
definition utan den tenderar i stället att erkännas som en dynamisk definition
som ska tolkas mot rim och reson. (Less)
Abstract
The principle of loyalty has existed since ancient times, both from a moral
perspective as well as a judicial one. As early as the Roman Empire, the public
imposed demands on loyalty to various types of principles. As different soci
eties evolved at their own pace and in their own direction, loyalty continued
to play a role in contractual relationships. This was based on the understand
ing that loyalty was essential for maintaining the ethical and moral standards
that individuals typically want to have in a functioning society. The principle
exists in numerous legal systems around the world and is codified in the
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods
(CISG), which is to be regarded as... (More)
The principle of loyalty has existed since ancient times, both from a moral
perspective as well as a judicial one. As early as the Roman Empire, the public
imposed demands on loyalty to various types of principles. As different soci
eties evolved at their own pace and in their own direction, loyalty continued
to play a role in contractual relationships. This was based on the understand
ing that loyalty was essential for maintaining the ethical and moral standards
that individuals typically want to have in a functioning society. The principle
exists in numerous legal systems around the world and is codified in the
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods
(CISG), which is to be regarded as the most recognized and frequently applied
contractual law. Although not every state has ratified the Convention, it none
theless exerts a significant influence and value in cross-border transactions in
cases where one of the parties is in a state that has ratified the CISG. Despite
all of this, there still is no legal definition of what good faith, as referred to in
Article 7(1) CISG, really means. This lack of a concrete definition is why this
thesis exists. It seeks to examine, through case law and doctrine, what the
practical meaning of the article is, and which consequences are actualized.
Good faith has long been regarded, and looked upon, as a general principle
that regulates contractual relations because of its characteristics of imposing
obligations on the parties. While it tends to be included in the terms of the
contract, it rarely specifies the specific obligations of what the parties must
do or refrain from. In Swedish law, there is a comparable concept, which is
the principle of loyalty. Although, this principle is only of national standard
and thus cannot be applied to contracts that are subject to the CISG and con
sequently governed by that convention. A comparative analysis of both these
principles and how they differ from and are alike each other may thus help
with defining the term good faith. Since commercial contracts tend to regulate
which risks the parties are obligated to take, it is crucial that the application
of good faith does not change this risk allocation disproportionately. Parties
that invoke a breach of good faith often seek to change the contract in the
sense that the risk must deviate from what was originally agreed upon. There
fore, courts are in the position to determine whether a supplementation of
such character is justified and reasonable. However, in which cases a court is
in such a position that it can intervene and change the contract’s risk alloca
tion remains uncertain.
An experienced and practicing lawyer, who has tremendous experience in
commercial law, has been interviewed as part of this work. This person has
also confirmed and acknowledged the doctrine of the subject at hand. The
principle of good faith exists, must exist and will continue to exist as it serves
a good purpose. However, it can lead to far-reaching and unintended conse
quences, which is why it must be used with caution. Specifically, the inter
viewee argues that courts should try to not change the risk of the contract and
should only do so where contractual relationships are completely unreasona
ble. Nevertheless, disputes that come from good faith are relatively rare, re
sulting in a limited body of case law. Against this background, the study con
cludes that the term good faith lacks a legal definition and is instead to be
seen as a flexible concept and should be applied in the light of reasonableness
and proportionality. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Jacobson, Jonathan LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
The good international faith
course
JURM02 20252
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
avtalsrätt, komparativ rätt
language
Swedish
id
9217437
date added to LUP
2026-01-20 09:40:44
date last changed
2026-01-20 09:40:44
@misc{9217437,
  abstract     = {{The principle of loyalty has existed since ancient times, both from a moral 
perspective as well as a judicial one. As early as the Roman Empire, the public 
imposed demands on loyalty to various types of principles. As different soci
eties evolved at their own pace and in their own direction, loyalty continued 
to play a role in contractual relationships. This was based on the understand
ing that loyalty was essential for maintaining the ethical and moral standards 
that individuals typically want to have in a functioning society. The principle 
exists in numerous legal systems around the world and is codified in the 
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods 
(CISG), which is to be regarded as the most recognized and frequently applied 
contractual law. Although not every state has ratified the Convention, it none
theless exerts a significant influence and value in cross-border transactions in 
cases where one of the parties is in a state that has ratified the CISG. Despite 
all of this, there still is no legal definition of what good faith, as referred to in 
Article 7(1) CISG, really means. This lack of a concrete definition is why this 
thesis exists. It seeks to examine, through case law and doctrine, what the 
practical meaning of the article is, and which consequences are actualized. 
Good faith has long been regarded, and looked upon, as a general principle 
that regulates contractual relations because of its characteristics of imposing 
obligations on the parties. While it tends to be included in the terms of the 
contract, it rarely specifies the specific obligations of what the parties must 
do or refrain from. In Swedish law, there is a comparable concept, which is 
the principle of loyalty. Although, this principle is only of national standard 
and thus cannot be applied to contracts that are subject to the CISG and con
sequently governed by that convention. A comparative analysis of both these 
principles and how they differ from and are alike each other may thus help 
with defining the term good faith. Since commercial contracts tend to regulate 
which risks the parties are obligated to take, it is crucial that the application 
of good faith does not change this risk allocation disproportionately. Parties 
that invoke a breach of good faith often seek to change the contract in the 
sense that the risk must deviate from what was originally agreed upon. There
fore, courts are in the position to determine whether a supplementation of 
such character is justified and reasonable. However, in which cases a court is 
in such a position that it can intervene and change the contract’s risk alloca
tion remains uncertain. 
An experienced and practicing lawyer, who has tremendous experience in 
commercial law, has been interviewed as part of this work. This person has 
also confirmed and acknowledged the doctrine of the subject at hand. The 
principle of good faith exists, must exist and will continue to exist as it serves 
a good purpose. However, it can lead to far-reaching and unintended conse
quences, which is why it must be used with caution. Specifically, the inter
viewee argues that courts should try to not change the risk of the contract and 
should only do so where contractual relationships are completely unreasona
ble. Nevertheless, disputes that come from good faith are relatively rare, re
sulting in a limited body of case law. Against this background, the study con
cludes that the term good faith lacks a legal definition and is instead to be 
seen as a flexible concept and should be applied in the light of reasonableness 
and proportionality.}},
  author       = {{Jacobson, Jonathan}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Den goda internationella seden - En komparativ studie med anledning av Omsättningsmålet}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}