论违约金的性质——以《合同法》第114条为视角

On the Legal Nature of Contractual Fine:With View of Article 114 of PRC Contract Law

我国《合同法》第114条约定违约金的性质得由当事人自由约定。对违约金的性质没有约定或者约定不明确的,当事人可以通过补充协议的方式来约定或者明确违约金的性质。不能达成补充协议,应当通过补充性解释来确定违约金的性质。以上方法依次用尽,仍不能确定约定违约金的性质的,应当认定约定违约金的性质是赔偿性为主、惩罚性为辅。《合同法》第114条第3款是赔偿性违约金,不是惩罚性违约金。《合同法》第114条第1款"约定因违约产生的损失赔偿额的计算方法"得出的损害赔偿额是赔偿性违约金。

The nature of the liquidated damages of Article 114 of PRC Contract Law should be agreed on freely by the parties. On the legal nature of liquidated damages with no or unclear stipulation, the parties may agreed to or stipulate it through supplementary agreement. In case of failure in doing so, the parties should confirm the legal nature of liquidated damages by supplementary explanations. If they still can not determine the legal nature of liqui- dated damages with the above method used, the parties should determine its compensation nature of the liquidated damages , with supplementary punishment. Article 114 Clause 3 of PRC Contract Law stipulates the compensation liquidated damages, not punitive damages. Article 114 Clause 1 of PRC Contract Law, upon the calculating method of compensation for losses resulting from the breach of contract obtaining the amount of damages, is the compensation liquidated damages