
The article concerns the evolution of various forms of cooperatives existing in French law. The regulations are presented chronologically, starting with the Act of 1867 and continuing with the provisions currently in force, especially the ones currently in force from the 1947. Types of cooperatives are shown, depending on the economic sector, which are a function of regulations in private law. Issues were raised related to questions that arise in the practice and theory of law in France and which may be important for Polish practice and Polish regulations. Among other things, answers to the questions will be analyzed - what reforms were carried out to adapt the old idea of cooperatives to the new economic conditions in France and in the world, whether the French cooperative model is a regulatory success or perhaps it was developed by adapting to the environment, hence the large amount of case law in this system , why a cooperative code has not been created and whether it has an impact on the activities of cooperatives, even though the share of cooperatives in many sectors of the economy is significant.