Max Planck Encyclopedia of European Private Law
In response to this, in 2009 the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law published a two-volume Handwörterbuch des Europäischen Privatrechts, which is now also available as a student edition. After a further two years of work an English version has been published by Oxford University Press as the Max Planck Encyclopedia of European Private Law. It is not just a translation of the German publication but an independent volume customised for the different legal backgrounds of an international readership.
The Encyclopedia consists of close to 500 structured entries. Based on legal history and the comparative material available, each entry explores current developments and future harmonisation projects – where they exist – for all areas of private law. A bibliography provides an overview of the most important literature for further reading. The Encyclopedia thus provides an overview of European private law and constitutes a central source of reference for academics, practitioners and politicians. Particularly useful are references to special norms, the case law of European and international courts and further reading material. In line with its format as an Encyclopedia, entries are in alphabetical order. Each entry includes numerous cross-references to other entries. The entries are also listed in thematic and subject indices, and there is a central legal bibliography.