Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 5 of 5
Full-Text Articles in Contracts
Smart Contracts: Terminology, Technical Limitations And Real World Complexity, Eliza Mik
Smart Contracts: Terminology, Technical Limitations And Real World Complexity, Eliza Mik
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
If one is to believe the popular press and many “technical writings,” blockchains create not only a perfect transactional environment but also obviate the need for banks, lawyers and courts. The latter will soon be replaced by smart contracts: unbiased and infallible computer programs that form, perform and enforce agreements. Predictions of future revolutions must, however, be distinguished from the harsh reality of the commercial marketplace and the technical limitations of blockchains. The fact that a technological solution is innovative and elegant need not imply that it is commercially useful or legally viable. Apart from attempting a terminological “clean-up” surrounding …
Private Lawmaking In Commercial Cyberspace, Eliza Mik
Private Lawmaking In Commercial Cyberspace, Eliza Mik
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
No discussion of “Law and Technology” would be complete without at least one essay centred on the Internet. While the Internet no longer captures our imagination with the same force as it did 20 years ago, we cannot assume that it no longer creates (or perpetuates?) multiple legal problems. When we talk about the Internet we must, however, refrain from the popular “Internet metanarrative” that often leads to superficial arguments and unhelpful generalisations.1 We must always remain aware of the multiplicity of the Internet’s technical applications and the wide range of legal contexts in which the term gains significance. Discussing …
Was Singapore Airlines Liable For Business-Class Seats Sold At Economy Rates?, Yihan Goh
Was Singapore Airlines Liable For Business-Class Seats Sold At Economy Rates?, Yihan Goh
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
Much has been reported about Singapore Airlines (“SIA”) mistakenly charging economy rates for around 900 business-class seats due to a computer input error. Yesterday, SIA said that it would honour those tickets at economy rates, reversing its previous position that it would not, and closing the episode on a note of goodwill. This blog entry explores the legal analysis behind the episode on the assumption that Singapore contract law applies, so as to maintain its general relevance to a Singaporean audience and its specific application to online retailers concerned about making similar pricing errors. Of course, the analysis would differ …
Updating The Electronic Transactions Act? Australia's Accession To The Un Convention On The Use Of Electronic Communications In International Contracts 2005, Eliza Karolina Mik
Updating The Electronic Transactions Act? Australia's Accession To The Un Convention On The Use Of Electronic Communications In International Contracts 2005, Eliza Karolina Mik
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
This article discusses the Australian Government’s proposal to accede to the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts as well as certain amendments to existing Australian electronic transactions legislation, i.e. the Electronic Transactions Act (Commonwealth) 1999 (”ETA”) and its state equivalents. Without going into a detailed discussion of all suggested amendments, this article focuses on those recommendations, which affect the area of contract formation, in particular: the use of automated systems in on-line transactions and the determination of the time the contract comes into existence. A critical review of the proposed changes reveals that their …
The Effectiveness Of Acceptances Communicated By Electronic Means, Or – Does The Postal Acceptance Rule Apply To Email, Eliza Mik
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
The ‘traditional’ classi?cation into ‘instantaneous’ and ‘non-instantaneous’ methods of communication must be abandoned. As all Internet transmissions are instantaneous, the choice between the principle of receipt and the postal exception must be based on other criteria. The focus must be shifted from communication devices to the characteristics of the communication process. The latter resembles either dealings face-to-face or dealings at a distance. This simple division should remain the basis for all analyses. Instantaneity and control are two of many characteristics of face-to-face dealings and are not the only factors to be taken into account when making the choice between the …