The International Academy of Comparative Law will hold its 18th International Congress of Comparative Law in Washington DC from 25 to 31 July 2010. About 30 different sections will discuss legal topics from all areas ranging from the interpretation of complex sources of law to foreign voters, issues of corporate governance and financial leases to surrogate motherhood, internet crimes, public private partnerships, climate change and the law and the balance of intellectual property. The numerous national reports on every single subject are based on questionnaires drafted by renowned experts acting as general reporters for the subject concerned. Most of the German national reports have been consolidated in this book and are made available to the public.