ABSTRACT
The sale and supply of both goods and services can give rise to civil and criminal liability, the latter being of particular importance in relation to the protection of consumers. A detailed examination of all the laws relating to all transactions for the sale or supply of goods/services is outside the remit of this book; therefore, civil and criminal laws relating to the commonest of such transactions will be considered below. One of the commonest transactions made by businesses is the contract for the sale of goods to other businesses or consumers. However, goods may be supplied under contracts other than sale, such as a hire contract. There, the owner of goods transfers possession for a fi xed period but retains ownership; common examples are television rental, rental of offi ce equipment and car hire. A person may also be supplied with goods as a gift. Though the recipient has no contract, defects in the goods can, in some circumstances, give recourse against a business supplier.
