A single 👍 emoji contained in an email that the sender alleged was simply intended to indicate “got it” resulted in a legal battle involving the payment of about $62,000 for certain goods and raised the question "Can an emoji seal a contract?".
Source: The following was posted on the Internet at:
https://99percentinvisible.org/?p=45069) (50) 😅⚖️ - YouTube
"In 2021, a Canadian farmer named Chris Achter responded to a buyer’s grain contract with a simple 👍 emoji. What followed wasn’t just a misunderstanding—it was a legal showdown that captured global attention.
"Achter, based in Saskatchewan, had a long-standing business relationship with the buyer. They often finalized grain deals over text. That year, when the buyer sent over a standard flax contract, Achter responded with a thumbs up. Months later, as drought conditions drove up flax prices, the buyer expected a delivery. None came.
"The buyer sued.
"The central question? Does a thumbs up emoji constitute a digital signature?
"A judge ruled that, yes, it did.
"According to Eric Goldman, a law professor at Santa Clara University, Achter later claimed the emoji was merely an acknowledgment—not acceptance. But the court disagreed, calling the emoji a “nontraditional but valid” form of agreement. The court awarded the buyer over $60,000 in damages.
"Goldman put it bluntly: “That single thumbs up emoji was worth tens of thousands of dollars.” 👍