cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/1255003
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.
I mean if you’re going to dismiss the other party with simply a “👍” that leaves it very open to interpretation. IMO farmer deserves it. Plus, if you read the backstory and circumstances, this was a renewal of a contract they had signed many times over many years before, implying the thumb would be a positive affirmation and not a neutral one.
Want to save some money? Type “let me get back to you” instead!
If the question asked was “do you agree to the contract?” and the farmer answered “👍”, then yeah I can see it. But if the question asked was “have you received the contract?”, then this ruling is bullshit. Unfortunately the article doesn’t have enough information either way.
This article references another article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/06/canada-judge-thumbs-up-emoji-sign-contract
Apparently the message was an image of the contract and “please confirm flax contract”. Seems like the most likely interpretation of the 👍 is agreeing to the contract, not confirming receipt.
Ah, well then yeah he should have been more explicit, or simply not replied.
