SaskatoonThe Appeal Court upheld a verdict that found a thumbs-up emoji met signature requirements and was a legally binding agreement between Achter and Kent Mickleborough, a grain buyer with South West Terminal.Country’s highest court dismissed application by farmer Chris AchterThe Canadian Press · Posted: Jul 24, 2025 12:28 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoIn 2021, Mickleborough sent a text of a contract to Achter for a delivery of flax, and the farmer responded with a thumbs-up emoji. (CBC News)The Supreme Court of Canada has given a thumbs-down to hearing a legal case involving an emoji.The country’s highest court dismissed an application by farmer Chris Achter to appeal a decision by the Court of Appeal of Saskatchewan.The court upheld a verdict that found a thumbs-up emoji met signature requirements and was a legally binding agreement between Achter and Kent Mickleborough, a grain buyer with South West Terminal.In 2021, Mickleborough sent a text to Achter with a contract for a delivery of flax, and the farmer responded with a thumbs-up emoji.Achter didn’t deliver the product, and the company took him to court for breaching the contract.The Supreme Court says costs are to be given to the grain company.
Supreme Court declines Saskatchewan farmer’s thumbs-up emoji contract case
