Canadian judge rules the thumbs up emoji counts as a contract agreement | Engadget
www.engadget.com
A Canadian judge has ruled that the popular “thumbs-up” emoji not only can be used as a contract agreement, but is just as valid as an actual signature.

A Canadian judge has ruled that the popular “thumbs-up” emoji not only can be used as a contract agreement, but is just as valid as an actual signature. The Saskatchewan-based judge made the ruling on the grounds that the courts must adapt to the “new reality” of how people communicate, as originally reported by The Guardian.

  • Sticky Fedi@lemmy.mlEnglish
    111·
    2 years ago

    We live in a time where a contract can be signed thusly:

    👁️👄👁️👍

    What a time to be alive. Say, is that cryogenically preserved millionaire still… ye’know, preserved?

  • leapingleopard@lemmy.worldEnglish
    101·
    2 years ago

    I wonder if they will take emoji cultural context into consideration? What about subcultures?

    To my metal friends, 🤘 that could be yes. Hippy-ish folx hit me with ✌️

    • the_eric@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      2 years ago

      I think the original story mentioned that the farmer was already using the thumb’s up emoji previously to accept contacts.

  • WhoRoger@lemmy.worldEnglish
    41·
    2 years ago

    So 🖕now counts as a verbal attack or something?

    For real, I can see how a thumbs up can be taken as a signature, if both parties understand that. Since this ended up in court, they obviously didn’t. Especially if the emoji was only as a response to a request of confirmation of receipt.

    • Kerfuffle@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      4·
      2 years ago

      I can see how a thumbs up can be taken as a signature, if both parties understand that. Since this ended up in court, they obviously didn’t.

      Uhh, there are definitely other reasons it can end up in court even if everyone understood everything perfectly. For example, if at any point one of the parties decided it would have been in their best interests if they hadn’t agreed to the contract…

        • Kerfuffle@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          2·
          2 years ago

          But that’s a different problem from “was the contract even signed?”

          I was responding to the “it wouldn’t have ended up in court unless a misunderstanding occurred” part. My point is the fact that it ended up it court isn’t necessarily because there was any misunderstanding at the time. People don’t always act in good faith.

  • deegeese@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    1·
    2 years ago

    Court made the correct call. I don’t see much difference between this case and a verbal agreement.

    If someone sends you a contract, you don’t acknowledge receipt with “sounds good” because you would rightly be taken as agreeing to the terms.