Force Majeure & Current Events:
We all have many questions as we grapple with the sweeping effects of COVID-19 on our professional and personal lives. Many may find it difficult or impossible to perform their contractual obligations given the restrictions imposed in response to the outbreak. If COVID-19 makes it impossible for you to perform your contract on time, or at all, consider invoking the force majeure clause.
Canadian Contract Law:
In contract law, force majeure refers to events that are out of the control of the parties and that may make performance of the contract difficult or impossible. The underlying principle of a force majeure clause is that no party to a contract should be held to its obligations if performance is prevented or delayed by events that are both unforeseeable and beyond that party’s control. If you are unable to perform your contractual commitments as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, a force majeure clause may relieve you of some or all of your obligations.
Be the first to read new articles, industry news, and more. Sign up to our newsletter today!
Join Our Community
Clause Application:
A force majeure clause typically starts with a list of specific events – for example, natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis as well as epidemics, quarantines and government shutdowns. If the parties clearly allocate the risk of a specified event, as an event that relieves the parties of their obligation to perform, even if it was foreseeable, it is likely to be enforced by the courts.
A force majeure clause typically ends with a general statement of the type of events (“Act of God”, “unforeseen”, “unavoidable”, etc.) that can be invoked to justify a party’s failure to perform. Even if a specific event is not listed, or the contract does not contain a force majeure clause, a court may still relieve a party of its obligations if the event was unforeseeable and beyond the party’s control.
Additional Resources: Thomson Reuters
Recent Posts:
Online Concert Licensing and Royalties – Part 1
Online Concert Licensing and Royalties – Part 2
Termination Clauses in Employment Contracts
COVID-19 Killed My Tour – Rights and Obligations – Part 1 – Venues
COVID-19 Killed My Tour – Rights and Obligations – Part 2 – Partners
—
Edwards Creative Law is a boutique law firm provides legal services to Music, Film, Animation, TV, Digital Media, Game, and Publishing industry clients. For more info and blogs, please visit www.edwardslaw.ca
© 2020 Edwards Creative Law
* This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice. Please contact Edwards Creative Law or another lawyer, if you wish to apply these concepts to your specific circumstances.
