ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Emmanuel Pierrat's Antimanuel de droit critiques French legal system

publication · 2026-04-23

Emmanuel Pierrat, an intellectual property attorney based in Paris, has released 'Antimanuel de droit', which critiques the French legal framework, alongside 'Brèves de prétoire' (Chifflet et Cie). This humorous work takes aim at a legal system that has become outdated, while also explaining the codes and symbols of French law. Pierrat points out issues such as legislative inflation, the influence of American practices like plea bargaining, the increasing importance of jurisprudence, and the trend towards legal specialization. He tackles myths surrounding censorship, noting its resurgence through religious censorship, as seen in the 2005 ban on a Marithé et François Girbaud advertisement, and state censorship, exemplified by the 1993 law against public decency offenses. Additionally, he underscores economic censorship and self-censorship, critiquing the Perben II law without suggesting solutions.

Key facts

  • Emmanuel Pierrat is a Paris-based lawyer specializing in intellectual property law.
  • The book 'Antimanuel de droit' is published alongside 'Brèves de prétoire'.
  • The book uses an incisive, humorous tone, more like a pamphlet than a manual.
  • Pierrat criticizes the French legal system as sclerotic and immobilized.
  • He highlights legislative inflation, Americanization, and specialization of legal professions.
  • Censorship is not moribund but has returned in religious, state, economic, and self-censorship forms.
  • In 2005, a Marithé et François Girbaud ad depicting the Last Supper was banned.
  • The 1993 law reinforced the offense of outrage to public decency.
  • Denis Robert's book on the Clearstream affair was suspended based on presumption of innocence.
  • Pierrat criticizes the Perben II law.
  • The book does not propose solutions but aims to stimulate reflection.

Entities

Artists

  • Emmanuel Pierrat
  • Michel Onfray
  • Marcela Iacub
  • Marithé et François Girbaud
  • Denis Robert
  • Cédric Rognon

Institutions

  • Chifflet et Cie
  • Clearstream

Locations

  • Paris
  • France

Sources