Editing Standard form contract (section)

{{Short description|Type of contract between two parties}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2010}}
{{Contract law}}
A '''standard form contract''' (sometimes referred to as a ''contract of adhesion,'' a ''leonine contract'',{{efn|A "leonine contract" is a contract where one party faces a possibility of loss but no possibility of gain. For example, in ''[[Republic of Djibouti]] et al. v Boreh et al.'' (2016), Zeinab Ali, a [[Djibouti]]an qualified lawyer and board member, argued that there were "leonine aspects" to a joint venture agreement for the development of the port of [[Doraleh Container Terminal|Doraleh]] in Djibouti. In cross-examination, Ali explained that by "leonine" she meant that the provisions in the contract ... were one-sided, preserving the rights of DP World (the port operator) to the detriment of the Republic.<ref>[https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2016/405.html Republic of Djibouti & Ors v Boreh & Ors (2016) EWHC 405 (Comm)], published 2 March 2016, accessed 5 October 2020</ref> In the [[Scots law|Scottish]] case of Sir William Hope of [[Kirkliston]] vs. William Gordon of Balcomy (or [[Balcomie]]) (1700), an alleged agreement between them is described as "a ''societas seu pactum leoninum'', where [one] might have loss, but in no event any profit".<ref>[https://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotCS/1703/Brn040558-0057.pdf 1700, 1701, 1702, 1703 Sir William Hope of Kirkliston vs. William Gordon of Balcomy], Decision of the Lords of Council and Session reported by [[John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall|Sir John Lauder]] of [[Fountainhall]] in ''Fountainhall'', p. 559, accessed 17 October 2020</ref>}} a ''take-it-or-leave-it contract'', or a ''[[boilerplate text|boilerplate]] contract'') is a [[contract]] between two parties, where the terms and conditions of the contract are set by one of the parties, and the other party has little or no ability to negotiate more favorable terms and is thus placed in a "take it or leave it" position.

While these types of contracts are not illegal ''per se'', there exists a potential for [[unconscionability]]. In addition, in the event of an ambiguity, such ambiguity will be resolved ''[[contra proferentem]]'', i.e. against the party drafting the contract language.