预约合同的认定及其违约责任——基于《民法典》的体系化构建

Recognition of Precontract and Liability for Its Breach——Based on the Systematic Construction of the Civil Code

《民法典》的重要价值之一是体系效益,为体系释法奠定了重要基础。预约合同作为一种灵活的法律工具,在日益复杂的交易过程中可发挥更大功能,预约合同规则体系的建构需要以更大限度的应用为导向。拘束意思、内容确定性、缔约意图是判定预约合同成立的标准,三者之间呈现一定的顺位性与层次性,以此标准将意向书、预约合同、本约合同作出清晰界分。基于预约合同内容确定性,预约合同可分为简单预约、主观障碍型预约、客观障碍型预约和完全预约。通过对预约合同的类型区分,完成对预约合同的体系建构。从请求权规范的整体视角看,《民法典》第495条预约制度和第500条缔约过失制度并不存在竞合问题,只存在适用衔接问题,可经由类型化进路,确定不同类型预约合同的具体的效力与违约责任。

One of the important values of the Civil Code is its systemic benefits,which lays the foundation for systemic interpretation.As a flexible legal tool,precontract can play a greater role in the increasingly complex transaction.The construction of precontract system should be oriented towards the wider application.Binding,certainty of the content,and the intent of the contract are the criteria for judging a precontract,with the three in an order and hierarchy,hence the demarcation between the letter of intent,the pre-contract,and the contract.In terms of the certainty of the content,precontracts can be divided into simple reservation,subjective obstacle reservation,objective obstacle reservation,and complete reservation.A precontract system can be established on the categorical division.From the overall perspective of the norm of right of request,there is no problem of competition and cooperation between the reservation system of Article 495 and the negligence of contracting system of Article 500 in Civil Code,but the problem of cohesion in application does exist.Based on the different types,judgment can be made on the specific effect and liability for breach of the precontracts.