French Experience on the Legislation of Direct Actions and its Significance

Direct action is a concept in French law. It has, in theory, a variety of types, and an open system. During the French contract law reform, an important and controversial issue is whether the direct actions rules could be integrated and unified. "Project of Ministry of Justice" does not touch the question; "Terre Project" specifies very carefully the most important type "Payment direct action",which has been acknowledged by legislators; "Catala Project" tries to establish the general rules on various kinds of direct actions. As a breakthrough to the relativity of contract, direct action system has an important function of protecting creditors. So the French legislative experience in terms of comparative law has important research value.