In a recent ruling by the Court of King’s Bench for Saskatchewan, businesses are advised to reconsider their use of emojis.
The court granted a summary judgment in favor of a grain buyer after deeming a thumbs-up (👍) emoji as acceptance of a contract. The case involved a representative for the buyer texting a photo of the flax contract to the seller’s representative, who responded with a thumbs-up emoji.
Despite their longstanding business relationship and past acceptance via text messages, the seller failed to deliver the flax, leading to a breach of contract.
The court relied on The Electronic Information and Documents Act, recognizing the emoji as an electronic form of action that met legal requirements for an enforceable contract.
This decision highlights the importance of clarity and understanding in electronic communication and serves as a reminder that subjective intentions hold no weight in determining a contract’s validity.
Want to know more? Check out the source code here.