{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-502.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-502.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-502.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-502.3.html"}],"law_id":68883,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68883,"structure_id":14011,"section_number":"59.1-502.3","catch_line":"Offer and acceptance in general","history":"2000, cc. 101, 996.","full_text":"Unless otherwise unambiguously indicated by the language or the circumstances:\n\n1\n\nAn offer to make a contract invites acceptance in any manner and by any medium reasonable under the circumstances.2\n\nAn order or other offer to acquire a copy for prompt or current delivery invites acceptance by either a prompt promise to ship or a prompt or current shipment of a conforming or nonconforming copy. However, a shipment of a nonconforming copy is not an acceptance if the licensor seasonably notifies the licensee that the shipment is offered only as an accommodation to the licensee.3\n\nIf the beginning of a requested performance is a reasonable mode of acceptance, an offeror that is not notified of acceptance or performance within a reasonable time may treat the offer as having lapsed before acceptance.4\n\nIf an offer in an electronic message evokes an electronic message accepting the offer, a contract is formed:A\n\nwhen an electronic acceptance is received; orB\n\nif the response consists of beginning performance, full performance, or giving access to information, when the performance is received or the access is enabled and necessary access materials are received.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":249342,"text":"Unless otherwise unambiguously indicated by the language or the circumstances:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":249343,"text":"An offer to make a contract invites acceptance in any manner and by any medium reasonable under the circumstances.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":249344,"text":"An order or other offer to acquire a copy for prompt or current delivery invites acceptance by either a prompt promise to ship or a prompt or current shipment of a conforming or nonconforming copy. However, a shipment of a nonconforming copy is not an acceptance if the licensor seasonably notifies the licensee that the shipment is offered only as an accommodation to the licensee.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":249345,"text":"If the beginning of a requested performance is a reasonable mode of acceptance, an offeror that is not notified of acceptance or performance within a reasonable time may treat the offer as having lapsed before acceptance.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":249346,"text":"If an offer in an electronic message evokes an electronic message accepting the offer, a contract is formed:","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"4A"},"5":{"id":249347,"text":"when an electronic acceptance is received; or","type":"section","prefixes":["4","A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"4A","prefix_anchor":"4A","level":2,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"4B"},"6":{"id":249348,"text":"if the response consists of beginning performance, full performance, or giving access to information, when the performance is received or the access is enabled and necessary access materials are received.","type":"section","prefixes":["4","B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"4B","prefix_anchor":"4B","level":2,"prior_prefix":"4A"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-502.3\/","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":262015,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68883,"identifier":"59.1-502.3","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.3","url":"\/59.1-502.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-502.3\/","token":"59.1\/43\/2\/59.1-502.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Offer and acceptance in general","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-502.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Unless otherwise unambiguously indicated by the language or the circumstances:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> An offer to make a <span class=\"dictionary\">contract<\/span> invites acceptance in any manner and by any medium reasonable under the circumstances. <a id=\"paragraph-249343\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.3\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> An <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> or other offer to acquire a copy for prompt or current delivery invites acceptance by either a prompt promise to ship or a prompt or current shipment of a conforming or nonconforming copy. However, a shipment of a nonconforming copy is not an acceptance if the licensor seasonably notifies the licensee that the shipment is offered only as an accommodation to the licensee. <a id=\"paragraph-249344\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.3\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"3\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> If the beginning of a requested performance is a reasonable mode of acceptance, an offeror that is not notified of acceptance or performance within a reasonable time may treat the offer as having lapsed before acceptance. <a id=\"paragraph-249345\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.3\/#3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> If an offer in an electronic message evokes an electronic message accepting the offer, a <span class=\"dictionary\">contract<\/span> is formed: <a id=\"paragraph-249346\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.3\/#4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4A\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> when an electronic acceptance is received; or <a id=\"paragraph-249347\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.3\/#4A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4B\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> if the response consists of beginning performance, full performance, or giving access to information, when the performance is received or the access is enabled and necessary access <span class=\"dictionary\">materials<\/span> are received. <a id=\"paragraph-249348\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/59.1-502.3\/#4B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOFFER AND ACCEPTANCE IN GENERAL (\u00a7 59.1-502.3)\n\nUnless otherwise unambiguously indicated by the language or the circumstances:\n\n1. An offer to make a contract invites acceptance in any manner and by any\nmedium reasonable under the circumstances.\n\n2. An order or other offer to acquire a copy for prompt or current delivery\ninvites acceptance by either a prompt promise to ship or a prompt or current\nshipment of a conforming or nonconforming copy. However, a shipment of a\nnonconforming copy is not an acceptance if the licensor seasonably notifies the\nlicensee that the shipment is offered only as an accommodation to the licensee.\n\n3. If the beginning of a requested performance is a reasonable mode of\nacceptance, an offeror that is not notified of acceptance or performance within\na reasonable time may treat the offer as having lapsed before acceptance.\n\n4. If an offer in an electronic message evokes an electronic message accepting\nthe offer, a contract is formed:\n\n   A. when an electronic acceptance is received; or\n\n   B. if the response consists of beginning performance, full performance, or\n   giving access to information, when the performance is received or the access\n   is enabled and necessary access materials are received.\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}}