In case of doubts, a dispute arising out of a tort that is an act of unfair competition does not fall under an arbitration agreement drafted to cover disputes arising out of or in connection with performance of a contract (Appellate Court of Poznań (Sąd Apelacyjny w Poznaniu) 1st Civil Division Decision, Case No. I ACz 2239/12 of January, 10 2013)

If parties included in a business contract an arbitration agreement which contains a broad wording and stipultes that the arbitration agreement covers all of the parties’ disputes arising out of the contract or connected thereto, then disputes stemming under Polish law out of acts of unfair competition do not fall within the arbitration agreement. That is because acts of unfair competition under Polish law are torts and thus claims originating therefrom are not “arising ouf of contract or connected thereto”. That is also true even if a given act of unfair competition was commited alongside performance of the contract.

An arbitration agreement constitutes an exception to the right to be heard by a state court. As such it should be interpreted narrowly. In case of doubts as to the scope of the arbitration agreement, it should be interpreted to favor the right to be heard by a state court.

keywords
rejection of statement of claim
arbitration agreement
about the authors

Kamil Zawicki is an attorney and partner at the Polish law firm of KKG Kubas, Kos, Gaertner, heading its “German Desk”. He has broad experience in litigation and arbitration. Mr. Zawicki’s areas of interest are mainly international business commercial law and Mergers & Acquisitions. He is the author of several publications on arbitration, insurance and re-insurance law and corporate law.

e-mail: kamil.zawicki@kkg.pl


Maciej Durbas, associate, KKG Kubas Kos Gaertner – Adwokaci


Kuba Gąsiorowski, associate, KKG Kubas Kos Gaertner – Adwokaci