scholarly journals Problems of Smart Contracts Application in Transactions in Virtual Property

Lex Russica ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 108-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Bogdanova

The author examines the features of the use of smart contracts in transactions in virtual property, taking into account the fact that the smart contract is a way of fulfilling those obligations in which the transfer of property provision takes place in the virtual world with the help of appropriate technical means. It should be recognized that the list of virtual property is open, at the moment it includes, for example, cryptocurrency, domain names, «game property», virtual tokens.The question of the legal nature of objects related to virtual property is relevant: are they a new independent type of property requiring special legal regimes, or are they a form of known property rights? The paper also notes that smart contracts differ in both vulnerabilities in computer code and insufficiently effective legal regulation. Smart contract, in the opinion of the author, is a kind of written (electronic) form of a contract, the peculiarity of which is that the will of the subject is expressed by means of special technical means in the form of program code. In this case, the will to conclude the contract simultaneously means the will to its execution upon the occurrence of certain conditions of the contract circumstances.In conclusion, the author shows that the automation of performance of obligations in particular and the digitization of contract law in general should not create obstacles to the implementation of the fundamental principles of good faith and contractual justice, to assess the proportionality of the distribution of rights and obligations of the parties, the equivalence of their property.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-111
Author(s):  
Raluca Onufreiciuc ◽  
Lorena-Elena Stănescu

The research aims to organize, examine, and analyze the provisions on smart contracts available in Romanian civil law. “Smart contracts” are not smart, and are not necessarily contracts, although they can be. As self-executing computer programs, smart contracts are operational on the blockchain and unlike traditional legal contracts, once the agreement has been concluded and the smart contract is set in motion, no party can intervene and it will be executed without interruption, modification, or breach. The crucial question in the final contract law topic is what happens when the smart contract's outcomes deviate from those required by law. To answer this issue, we must first understand that whether a smart contract becomes legally enforceable is determined by several circumstances, together with the unique use case, the type of smart contract employed, and the existing legislation. The paper addresses the subject of determining and regulating smart contracts under Romanian current laws. Particular emphasis is placed on two ambiguous definitions of smart contracts: as computer code and as a civil-law contract. The authors conclude that the concept of smart contracts requires more legal regulation, particularly in terms of managing their meaning and comprehension.


Author(s):  
K. Nekit

The article examines the concepts, legal nature of smart contracts, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of smart contracts as a basis for ownership. The technical and legal aspect of the concept of smart contract is considered. Models of using smart contracts are described. Approaches to determining the legal nature of smart contracts are presented. It is concluded that two models must be considered when using smart contracts. The first model is external, when the program code does not replace the agreement, but only automates its execution. The second model is internal, when the code completely or partially replaces the terms of the agreement. Among the advantages of smart contracts as grounds for the emergence of property rights can be identified, first of all, the inability to change the terms of the contract and interference in its work. However, at the same time, this feature is a disadvantage of the smart contract, as it does not allow to take into account the objective circumstances that may affect the implementation of the agreement. The problem of oracles when using smart contracts is also considered. It is noted that the use of oracles actually means the involvement of a third party in the transaction with all the risks that arise from it. The problem of involving notaries and state registrars in transactions on acquisition of property rights on the basis of a smart contract is analyzed. The problems of lack of legal regulation of smart contracts, in particular, related to its transnational nature, is investigated. The problem of protection of the rights of the parties to the smart contract is analyzed, in particular, related to technical errors and outside interference. Temporary solutions regarding the use of smart contracts and general recommendations on the legislative definition of smart contracts are proposed.


Legal Concept ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 54-60
Author(s):  
Nizami Safarli

Introduction: the paper is devoted to a new phenomenon in business activity in the conditions of IT development that contribute to the creation of secure contractual relations on the Internet on the basis of transactions executed through smart contracts. The author notes that the need for amendments that could fill the loopholes in the current legislation is obvious. And, first of all, it concerns Blockchain technology – the algorithm that mediates the safe development, conclusion and execution of smart contracts. Blockchain technology is considered in the paper as one of the safest means for concluding and executing smart contracts. The author argues that the study of the concept, legal nature and essence of smart contracts is relevant in the light of spreading their share in the total array of transactions in the world economy in conjunction with the changing domestic legislation governing the relevant sphere, as well as the international integration processes affecting the intensification of foreign economic activity of the Russian Federation. The smart contract concepts formulated by the Russian legislator in the process of upgrading the array of statutory regulation under conditions of economy digitalization are studied and compared. The features of conclusion and protection of the smart contract in the civil legislation of the Russian Federation are analyzed. In order to fully articulate the concept of the smart contract, reflecting its essence, functional purpose and legal nature, it is proposed to create a special law that would focus on the conclusion and implementation of “the smart contract” and the specification of the general norms of the civil code. At the same time, the norms of other special laws would supplement and correct the provisions fixed by this act depending on the sphere of managing and the legal regulation branch. The concept of the smart contract is formulated; its value for economic and contractual activity, and also the advantages and disadvantages of its application are established. The possible classifications of smart contracts are given.


Author(s):  
IRINA VIKTOROVNA ERMAKOVA ◽  
◽  
◽  

The subject of the research is legal norms aimed at regulating by law relations in the field of concluding and executing smart contracts, including issues of protecting the rights of the parties to such contracts, including consumers. The object of the research is social relations arising in the process of creating, concluding and executing of smart contracts. Particular attention is paid to the theoretical and practical aspects of the definition of the concept of “smart contract” and its essence, as well as its legal status. In addition, the article considers approaches to defining the essence of institutions that are closely related to the category of “smart contract”, such as “cryptocurrency”, “digital ruble”, “mining”. The aspects of the protection of fundamental rights of the parties involved in the considered legal relationship, including consumers, are also analyzed. Examples of court decisions regarding the corresponding category of cases are given. The novelty of the research lies in determining the current approaches in relation to the essence, concept and legal status of smart contracts, including the current position of law enforcement practice in relation to this issue. In addition, the novelty of the study lies in considering the practical aspects of the conclusion and execution of smart contracts, including, indicating examples of blockchain platforms on the basis of which smart contracts can function. Ultimately, the study led to the development by the author of some proposals in order to improve the relevant legislation. In particular, the author proposed to consolidate at the legislative level the legal definition of the concept of “smart contract”, indicating the appropriate wording.


Lex Russica ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 51-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. S. Grin ◽  
E. S. Grin ◽  
A. V. Solovyov

Within the framework of this article, the authors carry out the study of the design of the smart contract in the context of jurisprudence and technical sciences. The paper analyzes the legal nature of the smart contract and the issues concerning the scope of application (in relation to distributed ledger technology).The authors conclude that the category of “smart contract” can be defined in technical and legal aspects. In foreign literature, there are two categories: a legal smart contract and a smart contract code (or smart contract). The smart contract as a technical phenomenon represents a computer code that allows automated fulfillment of obligations. From legal point of view, the approaches to the definition of the smart contract depend primarily on the fact that the authors rely on the possibility of using smart contracts only within the framework of distributed ledger technology or other information technologies. At the same time, the majority of authors share the view that the smart contract exists exclusively in relation to the technology of distributed ledgers, namely, the blockchain. The article proposes to define the smart contract as a standard (special) contractual design — a contract concluded by electronic or other technical means, under the terms of which performance of the obligation is carried out without directed explicit additional expression of will (under Part 2 of Article 309 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation).The article states that the smart contract cannot be qualified as an independent way of ensuring the performance of obligations. Such qualification is possible only if the functional approach to understanding security is applied. The paper examines the main fields of application of smart contracts and possible risks of their application (in terms of statement of terms of agreements in relation to a programming language; in respect of necessity of compliance with such fundamental principles of civil law as legality, fairness, protection of the weak; the need for communication with public authorities and notaries, as well as risks of using smart contracts in relations involving the participation of consumers). A separate set of questions concerns the protection of the rights infringed due to the use of smart contracts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 1871-1893
Author(s):  
Vasilii A. DADALKO ◽  
Vladimir V. NIKOLAEVSKII ◽  
Andrei D. NEKRASOV ◽  
Dar’ya S. SHERSTNEVA

Subject. The article considers smart contracts as digital financial instruments, their financial and economic essence, which is defined as digital instruments for the settlement of financial relations. Objectives. The aim is to introduce into scientific use such a system concept as digital financial instruments and mechanisms based on the consideration of their economic, legal and financial essence. Methods. The study rests on systems approach that enables to present a smart contract from a technological, economic, legal and financial position as a set of elements with their specific functions defining its complex concept. Results. We reveal the nature of financial relations, arising at the time when bilateral or multilateral transactions are concluded and smart contracts are presented as ways to automatically settle them. Completion of a smart contract is a confirmation of the completion of the transaction and the moment of termination of financial relationship. The article shows the fundamental possibility of using smart contracts in the system of budget relations as a tool for the settlement of a multilateral transaction. Conclusions. Currently, smart contracts are an essential element of a new stage in the development of financial technologies. Specialists in the financial and banking sector recognize the emerging opportunities for their use in the system of financial relations. The paper shows an example of possible use of smart contracts in the settlement of budget relations and in improving the utilization efficiency of budget funds.


Author(s):  
E.V. Bolshakov ◽  
◽  
I.D. Nazarov ◽  

The subject of the research within the framework of the article is the criminal procedure institute for the detention of a person on suspicion of committing a crime. The legal nature of this institution is analyzed, and comments are given on the normative legal acts and judicial practice regulating the issues of detention. The theoretical basis of the research is based on the publications of the last two decades on this problem, in particular, reflecting the discussion of the process scientists S. A. Shafer, S. B. Rossinsky and A. A. Tarasov, the subject of which was the issue of the legal nature of a suspect detention in a criminal case. In the paper, the authors ask the following questions: What is the detention of a person on suspicion of committing a crime in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation? From what moment does the detained person acquire the status of a suspect? Is it possible to detain a person before initiating a criminal case? The study concludes that a person acquires the actual status of a suspect from the moment of direct detention, that is, before documenting this status and, as a result, before initiating a criminal case. Amendments to the articles of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation are proposed, and the authors` versions of the definitions of the concepts «detention of a suspect», «the moment of actual detention» and «pre-trial proceedings» are given.


Author(s):  
Darina Viktorovna Kocheva

The subject of this research is the approaches existing in the theory and practice of prosecutorial activity towards determination of the concept of “prosecutor's authority” and its constituent definitions, their correlation with the scientific views of legal scholars upon the state-legal category of “authority”. Due to the fact that any science is based on the terminological framework, featuring units that differ in their semantic content, the research of the cognizable basic category that does not have a universal definition, neither in science nor effective legislation, as well as the contradicting legal phenomena of different legal nature (rights and obligations) at its part, substantiates the relevance of this research. The scientific novelty of lies in the author’s argumentation of similar, identical and opposite perspectives on the subject matter existing in the literature, effective legal regulation, personal experience of working in the prosecutor's office, justification of conclusion in the indicated category of “legal obligations”. The author comes to the conclusion there is no need for normative differentiation the rights and responsibilities of the prosecutor within the framework of his “general oversight” authority and optimality of the existing regulation, which authorizes the prosecutor to act at the own discretion (making decisions based on subjective opinion and assessment) in terms of the grounds  and means set by law, with consideration of private and public interests.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Kirill A. Bobkov

The articles focuses on opportunities and problems connected with implementation of smart contracts into “over-the-counter” derivatives trading. The importance of success of professionals who work on this cannot be underestimated: the volume of “over-the-counter” derivatives market is huge, its automatization and transparency provided by implemented smart contracts could dramatically increase its economic efficiency. In this study, the author aims at answering the following question: what aspects of “over-the-counter” derivatives trading could take a quantum leap because of the implementation of smart contacts and, per contra, what aspects could not benefit from implementation of underlying technologies at all. The author starts with the overview of “over-the-counter” derivatives market, investigates the matter of its internal design, main features and the structure of legal documentation used by market participants. Then the article provides the analysis of smart contract phenomenon, summary of its engineering aspects and difficulties connected with the implementation of smart contracts as a practical matter, including underlying legal issues. The third part is a synthesis of ideas indicated in previous parts. Herein the author examines the perspectives of adoption of smart contracts in “over-the-counter” derivatives trading, identifies the problems that cannot be resolved yet: different parts of legal relations existing between market participants shall be structured in a flexible way and shall be subject to revision under specific conditions. Smart contracts in their turn cannot be considered as a flexible tool and the revision of their terms requires the input from highly experienced specialists that dramatically increases the costs of their implementation and maintenance. As a matter of conclusion, the author gives recommendation to potential developers of smart contacts to implement them only in relation to the automatization of payments and deliveries as at the moment the clearing can be considered as the most appropriate area for the implementation and use of smart contracts.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 62-70
Author(s):  
Natalia Bobrova ◽  
Vladimir Sidorov

The subject of the paper is theoretical justification of legal nature of positive constitutionalresponsibility legal institute. The evolution of views on the institution of positive constitutionalresponsibility from the first works on it (S.A. Avak`yan, Yu.P. Eremenko, F.M. Rudinsky, N.A. Bobrova) to the present time is analyzed.The purpose is to clarify its role in establishment and maintaining the regime of constitutionallegality.The results, scope of application. Doubts about the legal nature of positive constitutionalresponsibility up to its complete denial are identical with doubts about the legal nature ofmany constitutional norms, the denial of their direct action. These disputes will last forever.Direct service of constitutional and legal responsibility to the quality of governance is a featureof this type of legal responsibility along with its pronounced political character, as wellas the specific guilt of the subject of constitutional tort (liability not only for their acts butfor the acts of their subordinates).The emphasis on positive moral aspect to the detriment of "sanction" (retrospective) aspectof the constitutional responsibility does not meet the challenges of the new time.Proponents of affirmative responsibility had good purpose to build its high creative andeducational role from the positive side of the legal liability. However, this good purpose inpractice has not led to optimistic results.The authors come to the conclusion the legal regulation of mechanisms of responsibilityenforcement in Russia is necessary.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document