Book excerpt: This new Second Edition of the acclaimed & successful work, originally produced by the EEC Law Commission of the Association internationale des jeunes avocats (A.I.J.A.), has now been thoroughly revised, updated, & also expanded to include EFTA countries. An assessment of EEC (and in turn the situation pertaining to EFTA states) law & jurisprudence as it affects agency, distribution & franchising agreements is made at the outset. There then follows a detailed comparative analysis of the different national legal regimes (country by country) governing such arrangements within the EC & EFTA states, & an explanation of the extent to which EC law & practice is or may already be applicable to them. The systematic & thorough research presented in this text is structured to facilitate cross reference & comparison, & supplemented by case law & legislative references. The authors are practitioners of law who are frequently involved in the field of commercial agency & distribution agreements in the twelve member states, & members of the Association internationale des jeunes avocats (A.I.J.A.).