That's not true in most of continental Europe, nor in Quebec (Canada), since their legal system has a different origin than what you're describing. Using Quebe

That's not true in most of continental Europe, nor in Quebec (Canada), since their legal system has a different origin than what you're describing. Using Quebec's terminology by way of example, a contract where an advantage is given in exchange for rendering the obligation (so roughly a contract with consideration) is called an onerous contract, and most typical contracts for services fall into this category. The kind where one obligates oneself without receiving an advantage in return is called a gratuitous contract, and they classify gifts in this category.