Force Majeure（不可抗力条款）是规定在合同订立后发生当事人在订合同时不能预见、不能避免、不可控制的意外事故，以致不能履行合同或不能如期履行合同时，遭受不可抗力的一方可以免除履行合同的责任的条款。因此，不可抗力条款是一种免责条款（Disclaimer），是合同中必要的条款。

一般情况下，不可抗力条款主要包括以下内容：不可抗力的定义和范围（即哪些情况属于不可抗力事件）；（2）不可抗力的后续处理（不可抗力的处理原则和方法、不可抗力发生后通知对方的期限和方法，以及出具证明文件的机构等）。

 

具体条款示例：

　　

不可抗力的定义和范围

一般来说，引起不可抗力的原因有两种：一是自然原因，如洪水、暴风、地震、干旱、暴风雪等人类无法控制的大自然力量所引起的灾害事故，英语中常常会用acts of God来表述；二是社会原因，如战争、罢工、政府禁止令等引起的。

 

1. A party will not be liable to the other party for any failure, delay, or disruption of telecommunications services, caused by a Force Majeure Event, whether or not such matters were foreseeable, and such failure or delay will not constitute a material breach of this Agreement. “Force Majeure Event” means any cause beyond the reasonable control of a party that could not, by reasonable diligence, be avoided, including acts of God, acts of war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, denial of or delay in processing of export license applications, fire, floods, earthquakes, accidents, or strikes.​

 

2. Seller shall not be responsible for cancellation or delay in delivery or performance resulting from causes beyond its reasonable control, including, but not limited to :acts of God; strikes or other labor disturbances; equipment failure; delays in transportation; inability to obtain fuel, material, or parts; war; acts of terrorism; riots; epidemics; floods; fires; usually severe weather conditions; accidents; or other contingencies the non-occurrence of which was a basic assumption on which the purchase order was made.

除了以上通用的不可抗力事件外，在不同的领域中，也有一些具体的事件可被定义为不可抗力事件。如以下例3网络领域中，会增加一些黑客、病毒等人所不能预见、不能避免、不可控制的意外事故。

 

3 Force Majeure" refers to any event including, but not limited to, wars or natural disasters, that is unforeseeable or, if foreseeable, the occurrence and effect of which is unavoidable and

insurmountable. In light of the special nature of computer networks, Force Majeure shall also include all of the following, where they affect the normal operation of the Parties' computer

(1) attacks by hackers or invasion by or activation of computer viruses;

(2) failure on the part of either or both Parties, as a result of the damaged, paralysed or otherwise incapacitated state of their computer systems, to perform their obligations hereunder;

(3) major disruption due to technical adjustments by telecommunications departments; or

(4) temporary suspension of operations as a result of government controls.

但无论如何，在定义不可抗力事件时，一个关键的概括词比较重要，那就是Beyond its reasonable control超出其合理控制范围，这是界定是否为不可抗力事件的重要因素。

　　

不可抗力的后续处理

　　

A.不可抗力的处理原则和方法

　　

4 In the event the occurrence of a Force Majeure, the parties shall immediately consult with each other in order to find an equitable solution and shall use all reasonable endeavors to minimize the consequences. If the Parties cannot reach agreement on the amount of rent, extension of the Lease Term or other terms, either Party may refer the matter to arbitration under hereof.

如果发生不可抗力，双方应立即相互协商，以找到公平的解决办法，并应尽一切合理的努力，将后果减至最低限度，如果双方无法就租金金额、租赁期的延长或其他条款达成一致，则任何一方可按本合同的规定将该事宜提交仲裁。

5. Upon occurrence of a Force Majeure Event, the Nonperforming Party shall promptly notify the other party of occurrence of that Force Majeure Event, its effect on performance and how long that party expects it to last. Therefore, the Nonperforming Party shall continue to update the information as reasonably necessary on a weekly basis. During a Force Majeure Event, the Nonperforming Party shall use reasonable efforts to limit damages to the Performing Party and to resume its performance under this agreement.”

　　

B. 通知的期限和方法

6. If either party wants to claim that any of its obligations is materially affected by Force Majeure, it shall promptly inform the other Party in writing and shall provide to the other party sufficient evidence of the occurrence and duration of such Force Majeure within thirty (30)days of the occurrence of the same.

如果任何一方意欲主张该方的任何义务受到不可抗力的实质影响，则其应在不可抗力发生后的三十（30）天内迅速以书面形式通知另一方，并向另一方提供充分的证据，证明该不可抗力的发生及持续的时间。

提交证据证明一方受到不可抗力的影响时，常常对出具证明的机构有所规定，如：

 

7. 由于不能预见、不能避免和不能克服的自然原因或社会原因，致使本合同不能履行或者不能完全履行时，遇到上述不可抗力事件的一方，应立即书面通知合同其他方，并应在不可抗力事件发生后十五天内，向合同其他方提供经不可抗力事件发生地区县级以上政府部门出具的证明合同不能履行或需要延期履行、部分履行的有效证明文件原件，由合同各方按事件对履行合同影响的程度协商决定是否解除合同、或者部分或全部免除履行合同的责任、或者延期履行合同。遭受不可抗力的一方未履行上述义务的，不能免除其违约责任。

If the contract cannot be fulfilled or cannot be fully performed due to natural reasons or social reasons that cannot be foreseen, cannot be avoided and cannot be overcome, the party that encounters the above force majeure event shall immediately notify the other party in writing and shall, within fifteen days after the event of force majeure, provide the original documents of the certificate issued by the government department at or above the county level in the area where the force majeure event occurred, proving that the contract cannot be performed or need to be extended or partially executed. And the parties to the contract decide whether to terminate the contract, or partially or completely waive the responsibility of performing the contract, or postpone the performance of the contract according to influence of the force majeure event to the performance of the contract. If either party suffering from force majeure fails to perform the above obligations, it shall not be excused from its liability for breach of contract.

　　

当然，现实情况中，也有一些合同的不可抗力条款会相对简洁一点，并不会包括全部上述内容。如：

8. Neither you nor we shall be liable for breach of this Agreement (other than payment obligations) caused by circumstances beyond your or our reasonable control.

对于超出您或我们的合理控制之外的情况造成的违反本协议的违约行为（付款义务除外），您和我们都不承担任何责任。

 

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