加盟係一種共生交易,對加盟業主與加盟者均有利益,但在加盟關係中,加盟業主會施加諸多限制條款,限制加盟者的營業自由,形成競爭法上議題,對此歐盟曾頒布「加盟協議集體除外規則」,依條款性質定其違法與否,其後另以「垂直協議集體除外規則」代替之,改採「安全港規則」,並依約款性質,區分為黑名單條款與灰名單條款。限制轉售價格、區域及顧客限制、選擇性經銷中的供貨限制、限制原料供應,係屬黑名單條款;而競爭禁止、後契約限制等,則屬灰名單條款。我國公平交易法上關於限制轉售價格、差別待遇、搭售、限制交易對象、強制採購數量、定型化契約條款之濫用,均為我國實務上常見之加盟案例類型,惟與歐盟規則相較,略顯不足,如競爭禁止與後契約限制,實務迄今尚未表示看法。原則上,基於加盟契約的特殊性與一致性維持之需求,只要是為了「保護know-how」或「維護加盟一致性」所必要之約款,法律上均承認其有效性,以促進加盟產業的發展。
Franchising is a symbolic arrangement which is good for franchisor and franchisee. In franchising relationship franchisor will enforce many restraint clauses on franchisee. These amount to issues of competition law. European Union once announced treaty to categories of franchise agreements that decides the legality on the nature of clauses. It is replaced by guidelines on vertical restraints that adopts safe harbor rule and distinguishes black clauses from grey clauses. Resale price maintenances, district and customer restraints, supply restraints of select distribution and supply restraints of raw materials belong to black clauses. Prohibition of competition and after-contract restraint belong to grey clauses. Resale price maintenance, discrimination, tie-in, restraint of trading subject, compelling purchase volume and abuse of standard contract are common cases in our Fair Trade Law. However, in contrast to EU law, prohibition of competition and after-contract restraint are rare. In order to promote the franchising industry, clauses which are necessary to protect know-how or to maintain the consistence of franchising should be admitted legally.