A Comparative Study of Duration and Commencement of the Limitation Period under the UN Convention on the Limitation Period in the International Sale of Goods, the Uniform Commercial Code and Other Instruments

• Main Authors: Amin Taherkhani, Mohammad Taghi Rafie
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: Allameh Tabataba'i University Press 2015-01-01
• Series: Faṣlnāmah-i Pizhūhish-i Huqūq-i Khuṣūṣī
• Subjects: Duration and Commencement Date; Articles 8 to 13 of the UN Convention on the Limitation Period; Section 2:725 of the UCC; III7: 203 of the DCFR; 10:2 of the UNIDROIT 2010
• Online Access: http://jplr.atu.ac.ir/article_1013_e7396f451ee85afecb6f1e3ecda3f70e.pdf
• ISSN: 2345-3583

In international commercial contracts, imposing a time-limit on bringing a legal action through litigation is not only important for the purpose of certainty and protecting parties’ interest, but it is also considered to be essential. Both the Limitation Convention and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) establish four­ year time periods, while DCFR and UNIDROIT 2010 consider three-year time periods. Commencement date of the limitation period plays a significant role in determining this duration. In accordance with provisions of the Convention, the limitation period commences on the date when the claim occurs. In Article 2­725 of the UCC, the same criteria are taken into consideration. Hence, in connection with the determination of the commencement date, except in cases where the right to terminate is established, provisions of the UCC are consistent with the Convention. This is why in the UCC, in most cases except for claims arising from fraud, the "discovery rule" to determine the commencement date has been disregarded. By contrast, in UNIDROIT 2010 and DCFR, the "discovery rule" has been applied in all cases. Therefore, except in situations where claims arise from fraud, provisions of the Convention are inconsistent with the two recent instruments.