定金类型识别与定金规则的具体适用——《民法典合同编通则司法解释》第67条和第68条解读

Identification of Types of Deposits and Specific Application of the Deposit Rule——Interpretation of Articles 67 and 68 of The Judicial Interpretation of the General Provisions of Book Three Contract of the Civil Code

《民法典》合同编通则的违约责任一章只规定了违约定金,没有规定其他类型的定金。《合同编通则司法解释》确认,定金还包括立约定金、成约定金和解约定金,具有不同的法律调整功能,需确认它们的法律地位和效力。对于定金的识别,不论约定的是留置金、担保金、保证金、订约金、押金或者订金,只要没有适用定金罚则的约定,都不是定金。对于定金类型的识别,交付了定金但没有约定定金类型或者约定不明的,推定为违约定金。对定金罚则发生争议的,应当依照《民法典》第587条规定处理;一方根本违约,对方轻微违约的,不影响定金罚则的适用;部分违约,只要不构成根本违约,可以请求按比例适用定金罚则。不可抗力构成不履行债务适用定金罚则的正当抗辩。

The Chapter of Liability for Breach of Contract in the General Provisions of Book Three Contract of the Civil Code only provides for the deposit for breach of contract,and does not provide for other types of depos⁃its.The Judicial Interpretation of the General Provisions of Book Three Contracts confirms that the deposit also includes the security,the contracting deposit and the cancellation deposit,with different legal adjustment func⁃tions,and recognizes their legal status and effects.For the identification of the deposit and its type,regardless of whether the agreement is a retention money,security,earnest deposit,contracting deposit,security deposit or binder without specifying the deposit penalties,it is not a deposit.If a deposit is made but no type of deposit is agreed upon or the agreement is unclear,it is presumed to be a deposit for breach of contract.Disputes over deposit penalties shall be dealt with in accordance with Article 587 of the Civil Code.One party’s fundamen⁃tal breach and the other party’s minor breach shall not affect the application of deposit penalties;partial breach,as long as they do not constitute a fundamental breach,may request that the deposit penalties be applied on a pro rata basis.Force majeure constitutes a legitimate defence to the application of deposit penal⁃ties for non-performance of the debt.