{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-502.16.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-502.16.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-502.16.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-502.16.html"}],"law_id":83234,"edition_id":1,"section_id":83234,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.16","catch_line":"Idea or information submission","history":"2000, cc. 101, 996.","full_text":"a\n\nThe following rules apply to a submission of an idea or information for the creation, development, or enhancement of computer information which is not made pursuant to an existing agreement requiring the submission:1\n\nA contract is not formed and is not implied from the mere receipt of an unsolicited submission.2\n\nEngaging in a business, trade, or industry that by custom or practice regularly acquires ideas is not in itself an express or implied solicitation of the information.3\n\nIf the recipient seasonably notifies the person making the submission that the recipient maintains a procedure to receive and review submissions, a contract is formed only if:A\n\nthe submission is made and accepted pursuant to that procedure; orB\n\nthe recipient expressly agrees to terms concerning the submission.b\n\nAn agreement to disclose an idea creates a contract enforceable against the receiving party only if the idea as disclosed is confidential, concrete, and novel to the business, trade, or industry or the party receiving the disclosure otherwise expressly agreed.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":298236,"text":"The following rules apply to a submission of an idea or information for the creation, development, or enhancement of computer information which is not made pursuant to an existing agreement requiring the submission:","type":"section","prefixes":["a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"a","prefix_anchor":"a","level":1,"next_prefix":"a1"},"1":{"id":298237,"text":"A contract is not formed and is not implied from the mere receipt of an unsolicited submission.","type":"section","prefixes":["a","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"a1","prefix_anchor":"a1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"a","next_prefix":"a2"},"2":{"id":298238,"text":"Engaging in a business, trade, or industry that by custom or practice regularly acquires ideas is not in itself an express or implied solicitation of the information.","type":"section","prefixes":["a","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"a2","prefix_anchor":"a2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"a1","next_prefix":"a3"},"3":{"id":298239,"text":"If the recipient seasonably notifies the person making the submission that the recipient maintains a procedure to receive and review submissions, a contract is formed only if:","type":"section","prefixes":["a","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"a3","prefix_anchor":"a3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"a2","next_prefix":"A"},"4":{"id":298240,"text":"the submission is made and accepted pursuant to that procedure; or","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"prior_prefix":"a3","next_prefix":"B"},"5":{"id":298241,"text":"the recipient expressly agrees to terms concerning the submission.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"b"},"6":{"id":298242,"text":"An agreement to disclose an idea creates a contract enforceable against the receiving party only if the idea as disclosed is confidential, concrete, and novel to the business, trade, or industry or the party receiving the disclosure otherwise expressly agreed.","type":"section","prefixes":["b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"b","prefix_anchor":"b","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14011,"edition_id":1,"name":"Formation and Terms","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12900,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:36","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:36","permalink":{"id":261973,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14011,"identifier":"2","token":"59.1\/43\/2","url":"\/59.1\/43\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12900,"edition_id":1,"name":"Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act","identifier":"43","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12809,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","permalink":{"id":261885,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12900,"identifier":"43","token":"59.1\/43","url":"\/59.1\/43\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12809,"edition_id":1,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":259521,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12809,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":75095,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.1","catch_line":"Formal requirements","url":"\/59.1-502.1\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.1","metadata":false},{"id":82823,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.10","catch_line":"Terms of contract formed by conduct","url":"\/59.1-502.10\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.10","metadata":false},{"id":73216,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.11","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/59.1-502.11\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.11","metadata":false},{"id":72868,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.12","catch_line":"Efficacy and commercial reasonableness of attribution procedure","url":"\/59.1-502.12\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.12","metadata":false},{"id":56924,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.13","catch_line":"Determining attribution","url":"\/59.1-502.13\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.13","metadata":false},{"id":73858,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.14","catch_line":"Electronic error; consumer defenses","url":"\/59.1-502.14\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.14","metadata":false},{"id":65237,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.15","catch_line":"Electronic message; when effective; effect of acknowledgment","url":"\/59.1-502.15\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.15","metadata":false},{"id":83234,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.16","catch_line":"Idea or information submission","url":"\/59.1-502.16\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.16","metadata":false},{"id":61970,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.17","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/59.1-502.17\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.17","metadata":false},{"id":55100,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.2","catch_line":"Formation in general","url":"\/59.1-502.2\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.2","metadata":false},{"id":68883,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.3","catch_line":"Offer and acceptance in general","url":"\/59.1-502.3\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.3","metadata":false},{"id":82209,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.4","catch_line":"Acceptance with varying terms","url":"\/59.1-502.4\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.4","metadata":false},{"id":61606,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.5","catch_line":"Conditional offer or acceptance","url":"\/59.1-502.5\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.5","metadata":false},{"id":58024,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.6","catch_line":"Offer and acceptance; electronic agents","url":"\/59.1-502.6\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.6","metadata":false},{"id":55560,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.7","catch_line":"Formation; releases of informational rights","url":"\/59.1-502.7\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.7","metadata":false},{"id":75483,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.8","catch_line":"Adopting terms of records","url":"\/59.1-502.8\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.8","metadata":false},{"id":80284,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.9","catch_line":"Mass-market license","url":"\/59.1-502.9\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":65237,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.15","catch_line":"Electronic message; when effective; effect of acknowledgment","url":"\/59.1-502.15\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.15","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":61970,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.17","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/59.1-502.17\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.17","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-502.16\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2000. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?001+ful+CHAP0101\">101<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?001+ful+CHAP0996\">996<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":262003,"object_type":"law","relational_id":83234,"identifier":"59.1-502.16","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.16","url":"\/59.1-502.16\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-502.16\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.16","dublin_core":{"Title":"Idea or information submission","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-502.16","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"a\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">a.<\/span> The following rules apply to a submission of an idea or information for the creation, development, or enhancement of computer information which is not made pursuant to an existing agreement requiring the submission: <a id=\"paragraph-298236\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.16\/#a\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"a1\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> A <span class=\"dictionary\">contract<\/span> is not formed and is not implied from the mere receipt of an unsolicited submission. <a id=\"paragraph-298237\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.16\/#a1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"a2\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Engaging in a business, trade, or industry that by custom or practice regularly acquires ideas is not in itself an express or implied solicitation of the information. <a id=\"paragraph-298238\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.16\/#a2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"a3\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> If the recipient seasonably notifies the person making the submission that the recipient maintains a procedure to receive and review submissions, a <span class=\"dictionary\">contract<\/span> is formed only if: <a id=\"paragraph-298239\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.16\/#a3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> the submission is made and accepted pursuant to that procedure; or <a id=\"paragraph-298240\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.16\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> the recipient expressly agrees to terms concerning the submission. <a id=\"paragraph-298241\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.16\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"b\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">b.<\/span> An agreement to disclose an idea creates a <span class=\"dictionary\">contract<\/span> enforceable against the receiving <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> only if the idea as disclosed is confidential, concrete, and novel to the business, trade, or industry or the <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> receiving the disclosure otherwise expressly agreed. <a id=\"paragraph-298242\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.16\/#b\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nIDEA OR INFORMATION SUBMISSION (\u00a7 59.1-502.16)\n\na. The following rules apply to a submission of an idea or information for the\ncreation, development, or enhancement of computer information which is not made\npursuant to an existing agreement requiring the submission:\n\n   1. A contract is not formed and is not implied from the mere receipt of an\n   unsolicited submission.\n\n   2. Engaging in a business, trade, or industry that by custom or practice\n   regularly acquires ideas is not in itself an express or implied solicitation\n   of the information.\n\n   3. If the recipient seasonably notifies the person making the submission that\n   the recipient maintains a procedure to receive and review submissions, a\n   contract is formed only if:\n\nA. the submission is made and accepted pursuant to that procedure; or\n\nB. the recipient expressly agrees to terms concerning the submission.\n\nb. An agreement to disclose an idea creates a contract enforceable against the\nreceiving party only if the idea as disclosed is confidential, concrete, and\nnovel to the business, trade, or industry or the party receiving the disclosure\notherwise expressly agreed.\n\nHISTORY: 2000, cc. 101, 996.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}