# Law No. 8955 of December 15, 1994

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647569](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647569)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-8955-of-december-15-1994

## Summary
Law No. 8955 of December 15, 1994, is a Brazilian statute that regulates business franchise contracts (franchising) and establishes related provisions. It was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Itamar Franco and serves as a formal written document defining legal norms for franchising relationships within the country.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 8955, de 15 de dezembro de 1994
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 8955/1994
- **Date of Approval/Promulgation:** December 15, 1994
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (President Itamar Franco)
- **Primary Subject:** Business franchise contract (Contrato de Franquia Empresarial)
- **Main Subject Categories:** Regulamentation (Regulation), Relation (Relationship), Definition, Rights, Contract
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília
- **Language of Work:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Document Class:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Legal Identifier (LexML):** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-15;8955
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l8955.htm
- **Wikimedia Focus List:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws
- **Copyright Status:** Public Domain (as a statute/edict of government)

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 8955/1994?**
The law is primarily enacted to regulate business franchise contracts, known in Portuguese as *Contrato de Franquia Empresarial*. It addresses legal definitions, rights, and the regulatory framework governing the relationship between franchising parties.

**Who enacted Law No. 8955 of 1994?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The specific determination method used was promulgation by President Itamar Franco on December 15, 1994.

**Where can the official text of this law be found?**
The official work is available at the URL https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l8955.htm. It is published under the authority of the Brazilian federal government and is cataloged with the LexML Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-15;8955`.

**Is Law No. 8955 a copyrighted document?**
No, as a statute, it is a formal written document that creates law and is generally in the public domain. Under the "edict of government doctrine," official legislative enactments like this are not subject to copyright restrictions to ensure public access.

**What jurisdiction does this law apply to?**
This statute applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil. It is a federal law, published in Brasília, the capital of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 8955 matters because it provides the essential legal infrastructure for the franchising sector in Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America. By establishing specific definitions, rights, and regulations for franchise contracts, the law creates a stable framework for businesses operating under this model, protecting the interests of both franchisors and franchisees. Enacted during the presidency of Itamar Franco, this statute is a tangible manifestation of statutory law that governs commercial relations, ensuring that business agreements are documented, enforceable, and standardized across the country. Its status as a public domain document ensures that these legal rules are accessible to all citizens and entrepreneurs, supporting transparency and the rule of law in Brazil's commercial activities.

## Notable For
- **Franchise Regulation:** Notable specifically for being the statutory instrument that "dispõe sobre o contrato de franquia empresarial" (provides for the business franchise contract).
- **Itamar Franco Administration:** Enacted during the final weeks of President Itamar Franco's term (1992–1994) on December 15, 1994.
- **LexML Standardization:** Features a standardized Legal Markup Language identifier (LexML Brazil ID), integrating it into Brazil's official legal information system.
- **Subject Classification:** Cataloged with specific main subjects including "Regulamentation," "Rights," "Definition," and "Contract" within legal databases.
- **Statutory Nature:** Recognized as an instance of a "statute," the formal written document class that serves as the foundation for statutory law.

## Body

### Legal Nature and Classification
Law No. 8955 is classified as a **statute**, defined as a formal written document that creates law. As a statute, it serves as the manifestation of statutory law and is distinct from abstract legal theories, acting instead as the tangible, written evidence of legal rules. It functions as a "legal norm" and is a subclass of a "written work" and "document." The document follows "draft laws" and is caused by the process of "legislation" or a "legal act." Like other statutes in jurisdictions such as the United States and France, Law No. 8955 is considered to be in the public domain under the "edict of government doctrine," which dictates that official legislative enactments are not copyrightable to ensure public accessibility.

### Legislative History and Enactment
The law was promulgated on **December 15, 1994**, by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The specific determination method for its approval was promulgation. At the time of enactment, the President of Brazil was **Itamar Franco**, who served as the head of state and head of government. This period marked the end of Franco's presidential term, which ran from 1992 to 1994, preceding the administration of Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The place of publication for this legal act was **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil since 1960.

### Content and Subject Matter
The core content of Law No. 8955 is defined by its law digest: "DISPÕE SOBRE O CONTRATO DE FRANQUIA EMPRESARIAL (FRANCHISING) E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS" (Provisions on the Business Franchise Contract and other measures). The statute addresses several key legal concepts categorized as its main subjects:
- **Regulamentation (Regulation):** The establishment of rules and oversight.
- **Relation (Relationship):** Defining the connection between the parties involved.
- **Definition:** Specifying the legal meanings of terms used within the context of franchising.
- **Rights:** Outlining the entitlements of the parties.
- **Contract:** Governing the formal agreement structure.

### Jurisdiction and Language
This statute applies specifically to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. As a federal law, it holds authority across the country's 26 states and Federal District. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**, reflecting the official language of Brazil. The law is part of the broader legal system of the Federative Republic of Brazil, a federal republic with a presidential system and a representative democracy, governed by the Constitution of 1988.

### Identification and Access
Law No. 8955 is systematically indexed within Brazilian and global legal databases.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-15;8955`
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 8955/1994
- **Official URL:** The work is available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l8955.htm`

The entity is tracked by the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its significance within the scope of Brazilian legal documentation on Wikimedia projects. As a statute, it is structurally modeled in semantic web technologies as an equivalent class to `https://schema.org/Legislation`.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-12-15;8955)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=8955&ano=1994&data=15/12/1994&ato=362ITSU50dJpWTf8c)
3. LexML Brasil