Can an Emoji Seal a Deal? Canadian Court Says a Thumbs-Up Emoji Counts in Binding Contract
Even casual responses can lead to legally binding agreements that in this case ended up costing a grain farmer thousands of dollars.
July 13, 2023 at 02:23 PM
3 minute read
The original version of this story was published on Law.com International
The recent decision by a Canadian court that a "thumbs-up" emoji constituted acceptance of a contract is a cautionary tale on communications in the digital age.
The Court of King's Bench in Saskatchewan ruled last month in a summary judgment that a farmer had to pay $82,000 for failing to deliver flax to a grain buyer after giving a thumbs-up to a texted photo of an agreed-upon contract with the message: "Please confirm flax contract."
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