Is An Email Legally Binding?

[Alwyn]

Hi, In contract law is an email legally binding? I've tried some searching on this and came up with UK answers only.

 

[One]

I think so. You can make a contract via e-mails. When you purchase something on the internet you are effectively making a contract using electronic data.

 

[Latrade]

If you're making an offer and the other party accepts those terms via reply, then yes it could well be. But it would always be prudent to follow up with a formal contract.

 

[Sunny]

Yes it can be binding. There are still some transactions that can't be done electronically like land transfers etc but for general day to day business, an e-mail is an accepted form of contract. An e-mail coming from my account with my name is usually enough to be considered an electonic signature. There is Irish and European Law on the subject.

 

[ondeball]

Best bet is to contact Citizen's Information as it varies depending on what it is in relation to.

I know for an unfair dismissal case they accept any job description that would have been e-mailed to you.

However, if you're the FIFA General Secretary and you alluded to the fact that a country 'bought' the World Cup' then it's a much more grey area.

 

[jpd]

it would be difficult to prove that the e-mail came from the person who sent it - afterall you could send an e-mail and fake the sender very easily.

 

[Complainer]

The Electronic Commerce Act says that you cant deny the validity of information solely on grounds that it is in electronic form.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2000/en/act/pub/0027/sec0009.html#sec9

 

[ondeball]

Well it's you shouldn't be using anything other than a professional company e-mail address in a case anyhow.

gmail, yahoo, hotmail, etc. would be far too easy to fake.