Interpretation of Legal Texts

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties,; Signed at Vienna 23 May 1969, Entry into Force 27 January 1980
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<http://www.tufts.edu/departments/fletcher/multi/texts/BH538.txt> Alternative source off the Multilateral Project

Interpretation as dealt with within particular Conventions

Sale of Goods: CISG - The Vienna Sales Convention 1980
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For Interpretation of the Convention Text, see Article 7

For discerning a party's intent, see Article 8

Principles of International Commercial Contracts
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UNIDROIT, Rome, 1994

For interpretation of the Principles see Article 1.6

For interpretation of contracts made under these principles, see Chapter 4 generally, which includes:

Article 4.1 - Intention of the Parties

Article 4.2 - Interpretation of Statements and Other Conduct

Article 4.3 - Relevant Circumstances

Article 4.4 - Reference to Contract or Statement as a Whole

Article 4.5 - All Terms to be Given Effect

Article 4.6 - Contra Proferentem Rule

Article 4.7 - Linguistic Discrepancies

Article 4.8 - Supplying an Omitted Term

For interpretation of the Principles see Article 1.106 (ex. 1.104)

This is the the revised complete text. The provision 1.106 was 1.104 in the previous text. (the text identical to earlier provision)

For interpretation of contracts made under these principles, see Chapter 5 generally, which includes:

Article 5.101 (ex art. 7.101/ 101A) - General Rules of Interpretation

Article 5.102 (ex art. 7.102) - Relevant Circumstances Article 5.103 (ex art. 7.103) - Contra Proferentem Rule Article 5.104 (ex art. 7.104) - Preference to Negotiated Terms Article 5.105 (ex art. 7.105) - Reference to Contract as a Whole (to Be Read as a Whole) Article 5.106 (ex art. 7.106) - Terms to Be Given (Full) Effect Article 5.107 (ex art. 7.107) - Linguistic Discrepancies

United Nations Convention on the Limitation Period in the International Sale of Goods
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For interpretation see Article 7 which is identical in the 1974 and 1980 versions Article 7

United Nations Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea (The Hamburg Rules) (Hamburg, 30 March 1978)

For interpretation see Article 3

Interpretation of International Conventions within the Commonwealth

Fothergill v Monarch Airlines Ltd. House of Lords 1980

Whilst there have been numerous judgments on the subject, this is provided as an invaluable starting point, for consideration and further research.