A Canadian farmer was sentenced to pay more than 82,000 Canadian dollars ($61,000 USD) in damages due to an emoji mix-up. A judge ruled that a thumbs up emoji serves as contract approval.
In 2021, Chris Achter, an agricultural business owner in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, used a thumbs up emoji in response to a photo of a flax purchase contract sent by a grain buyer.
The buyer, who had a business relationship of several years with Achter, did not receive the agreed flax, which led to a legal dispute. Extensive research was carried out in different jurisdictions to determine the meaning of the emoji in the context of the case. This was detailed in a court ruling issued in June and recently reported in the local media.
The emoji cost the farmer more than $60,000.
South West Terminal, the buyer, claimed that the thumbs up emoji indicated acceptance of the contractbut Achter claimed that he was only confirming receipt of the document without implying his agreement.
During the trial, Judge TJ Keene concluded that, based on the multiple occasions on which the thumbs up emoji was used, Chris had approved the contract in a similar way to how you had done it before, but this time with the use of emoji.
Judge Keene stated: “In my opinion, the emoji sent by Chris from his cell phone meets the signature requirement.”
Fountain: Guardian
