Thumbs-Up Emojis Are Legally Binding, Court Confirms

A Canadian court upheld a ruling that found thumbs-up emojis are legally binding.

The ruling was spurred by an appeal to a 2023 decision that found Achter Land & Cattle Ltd, a grain seller, had to uphold a $58,000 contract with South West Terminal, a grain buyer it had done business with since 2012, per CBC News.

"Please confirm flax contract," the SWT employee stated with a picture of a double-sided contract, according to reporting by CBC News.

An Achter Land & Cattle Ltd employee who was given approval by the company's owner responded with a thumbs-up emoji.

After the price of grain increased, Achter Land & Cattle claimed the contract was void because it was never officially signed.

"It's no real different than the words that he texted in previous contracts—OK, looks good, yup—the thumbs-up emoji is just a different way of communicating," Josh Morrison, counsel for South West Terminal, said, according to CBC News.