A Canadian appeal court has upheld a novel ruling that a “thumbs-up” 👍emoji sent in a text by a farmer was a valid acceptance of a contract with a grain buyer.

The Court of King's Bench in Saskatchewan caused quite a stir last summer when it ruled in a summary judgment that farmer Chris Achter had to pay CA$82,000 for failing to deliver flax to South West Terminal Ltd. after giving a thumbs-up to a texted photo of an agreed-upon contract with the message: "Please confirm flax contract."