On November 1, 2005, Germany enacted the "Act on Model Case Proceedings in Disputes under Capital Markets Law (Capital Markets Model Case Act)" allowing sample proceedings to be brought before the courts in litigation arising from mass capital markets transactions. This was intended to be limited to cases regarding disputes in investment markets against several potential plaintiffs. It does not apply to any other civil law proceeding. It is not like class actions in the United Statesit only applies to parties who have already filed suit, and does not allow a claim to be brought in the name of an unknown group of claimants. The effects of the law will be monitored over five years. It contains a sunset clause, and it would automatically cease to have effect on November 1, 2010, unless the legislature decided to prolong the law, or extend it to other mass civil case proceedings.