mirror image rule

Contracts. The doctrine that the acceptance of a contractual offer must be positive, unconditional, unequivocal, and unambiguous, and must not change, add to, or qualify the terms of the offer; the common-law principle that for a contract to be formed, the terms of an acceptance must correspond exactly with those of the offer.

• In modern commercial contexts, the mirror-image rule has been replaced by a UCC provision that allows parties to enforce their agreement despite minor discrepancies between the offer and the acceptance. The rule still applies to international sales contracts governed by the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sales of Goods (article 19).

— Also termed ribbon-matching rule. See BATTLE OF THE FORMS. [Cases: Contracts 24. C.J.S. Contracts §§ 52–53.]

---

词条贡献者

译者晓琳，法学硕士（国际争议解决方向），擅长翻译各种与复杂跨境争议相关的法律文件。