THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS

2006 Prentice Hall Ch. 9-1

THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT
OF BUSINESS
A Critical Thinking Approach
Fourth Edition
Nancy K. Kubasek
Bartley A. Brennan
M. Neil Browne
2003 Prentice Hall Ch. 3-1
2006 Prentice Hall
The International Legal
Environment of Business
CHAPTER 9
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
Ch. 9-2
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-3
Chapter 9 Overview
All business is international business
Opportunities for U.S. companies
Competing in a global market
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-4
Dimensions of the International
Environment of Business
Political Economic
Cultural Legal
Ethical
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-5
Economic Dimensions
Growth rate
Central planning or market economy
Disposable income
Transportation infrastructure
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-6
Political Dimensions
Democratic Totalitarian
Decentralized Centralized
Free Market Planned Economy
Civil Liberties Stability
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-7
Cultural Dimensions
Definition
Culture consists of learned
norms of a society based on
values, beliefs and attitudes
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-8
Elements of Culture
Language
Religion
Group Membership
Attitudes
Education
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-9
Legal Dimensions
National Legal Systems:
Common Law
Civil Law
Islamic Law
Socialist Law
Hindu Law
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-10
Common Law
Origins in England and its colonies
Case Law
Precedent
Retrospective
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-11
Civil Law
Origins in Europe Romano-Germanic
Code or Statutory Law
Regulatory
Prospective
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-12
Islamic Law
Religious-Based: fundamentally from the Koran
Set forth in the Sharia
Woven into all aspects of daily life, the family,
and institutions of government
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-13
Socialist Law
Origins in socio-economic theories of Marx
Law applied to advance the collective
ownership of property and the means of
production
Private rights subordinate to collective
rights as expressed through the state
Ultimate goal is to evolve beyond the need
for law
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-14
Hindu Law
Religious origins in the Sastras and the
Vedas
Law advances compliance with the caste
system
Focus on family and succession
Codified into Indias national laws
As a former British colony, India also
shares some common law traditions
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-15
International Law
Traditional View:
Public sector actions can directly affect
private international agreements
Realistic View:
Public Private
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-16
Sources of International Law
Customs
Treaties
Judicial Decisions
Scholarly Writings
International Organizations
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-17
Examples of International Law
Visas
Tax treaties
Certain intellectual
property right
protections
FCN treaties
Multilateral
trade
agreements:
NAFTA
ASEAN
WTO
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-18
Methods of Engaging in International
Business
Low Risk
Trade: Stay Home and Export
Low/Medium Risk
Medium Risk
Licensing, Franchising
High Risk
Direct Investment
Distributors Sales Reps
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-19
International Trade
DEFINITION
Export and import of goods
and services from one
country to/from another
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-20
Reasons for International Trade
Ricardo: The Economic Theory of
Comparative Advantage
Relative efficiency
Assumptions in the model vs. the
real world: There is no free trade
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-21
International Licensing
Broadly applicable as to subject matter
of license
Trade Secrets Copyrights
Patents Trademarks
Technology Know How
Trade Dress
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-22
Franchising Agreements
Structure of the Franchise Agreement:
Licensor permits use of licensed property
Licensee pays royalties and fees based on
sales
Examples: McDonalds, KFC
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-23
Foreign Direct Investment
Usually via Multinational
Corporations
Joint Venture Subsidiary
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-24
Motivation for Foreign Investment
Expand markets
Get close to customers
Use foreign resources
Cheaper labor
Fewer regulations
Acquire knowledge
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-25
Subsidiaries & Limited Liability
When is the parent
corporation liable for acts
of subsidiary?
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-26
Case 9-1: In Re Union Carbide at Bhopal
Action against both parent and
subsidiary for wrongful death and
injuries resulting from lethal gas leak at
chemical plant in India
Issue: Forum shopping
Decision: Case removed to India from
U.S. court
Reason: Forum non conveniens
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-27
Forum Non Conveniens
Where act occurred
Where witnesses and evidence are
Where business is incorporated
Local, not U.S. work force employed at the
plant
Translation of language problems
Local regulations applied to the plant
Costs and effort required for U.S. venue
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-28
Joint Ventures
Defining characteristic: Usually
created for a single purpose and a
limited time
Some countries require all foreign
investment via joint ventures
Entities may be private,
government, or both
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-29
Risks of Engaging in International
Business
Expropriation
Sovereign Immunity Doctrine and
FSIA
Act of State Doctrine
Export and Import Controls
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-30
Case 9-2: Keller v. Central Bank of Nigeria
Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA)
No jurisdiction by U.S. court unless
commercial activity is found
Held: Illegal action does not preclude a
finding of commercial activity
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-31
Case 9-3: Philippines v. Marcos
FACTS
Civil RICO action to recover fraudulent
transfers of funds
Injunction also sought to freeze funds
Defense: Act of State (by head of state)
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-32
Case 3-3: Philippines v. Marcos
HOLDING
Act of State Doctrine based in balance of
power among three branches of government
Judiciary will not intrude on foreign affairs
conducted by executive branch
The doctrine does not extend to Marcos
situation
U.S. Court has jurisdiction and affirmed
injunction
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-33
Case 9-4: U.S. v. Haggar Apparel
FACTS
Haggar ships pants to Mexico for sewing
and permapressing, then ships finished
goods back into U.S.
General rule: such a procedure is exempt
from customs duty
U.S. Customs declared permapress to
be manufacturing, not assembly; duty
levied
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-34
Case 9-4: U.S. v. Haggar Apparel
HOLDING
Lower court ruled in favor of Haggar,
refunding duty
Court of Appeals reversed and held for
Customs
Rule: Customs classifications are made
at port of entry, but such decisions must
conform to statutory standards
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-35
Risks Relating to Currency
Currency Controls
Currency Value Fluctuation
A Partial Solution: Hedging
Forward Contracts
Futures Contracts
Options
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-36
Legal and Economic Integration
Three Examples:
1. WTO
2. European Union
3. NAFTA
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-37
World Trade Organization
Created 1995
Based upon GATT
Goals: Eliminate Barriers to Trade
Prohibit Nontariff Barriers
Reduce Tariffs and Subsidies
Protect Intellectual Property
Rights
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-38
WTO: Structure and Function
Rulemaking
Ministerial
Conference
General
Council
Dispute Resolution
Consultation
between Members
Dispute Settlement
Panel
Appellate Body
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-39
WTO: Concerns and Criticisms
Sovereignty v. Trade
Environmental Laws
Consumer Protection
Labor Laws
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-40
European Union
Origins in the European
Economic Community 1957
Goals: Free movement of
goods, services, capital, and
people across member
borders
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-41
EU: Steps toward Realization
Treaty of Rome 1957 Customs Union
Single European Act 1986 Common
Market
Maastrich Treaty 1991
Monetary Union
Political Union
Uniform labor and social security laws
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-42
EU: Structure and Membership
Council of Ministers One per state
EU Commission 20 members, control
functional areas called Directorates
Parliament Elected by states
European Court of Justice
Jurisdiction over EU v. state disputes
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-43
North American Free Trade Agreement
NAFTA ratified in 1994
Fifteen year phase in period
Purpose: Eliminate barriers to free
flow of goods, services, and
investments in Canada, U.S. and
Mexico
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-44
NAFTA: Structure
Trade Commission
Secretariat
Arbitral Panels
Dispute resolution via five member
panels
Offers relatively quick and final
decision
Example: UPS Case v. Mexico
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-45
Global Dispute Resolution
Arbitration: The most often used method of
resolving international business disputes
Supported by:
UN Convention on the Recognition of
Foreign Arbitral Awards
International Center for the Settlement of
Investment Disputes
International Chamber of Commerce Rules
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-46
Other Forms of Dispute Resolution
Mediation
Conciliation
Litigation
Contractual Clauses
Choice of Forum
Choice of Law
Language
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
2006 Prentice Hall
Ch. 9-47
Summary
Managers need to consider all
aspects of international business
Important areas include: political,
economic, cultural, and legal
Increasingly, international
organizations shape the rules of
global trade