How to Analyze UCC 2-207 and The Mirror Image Rule on a Contracts Essay ("Battle of the Forms")

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How to Analyze UCC 2-207 and The Mirror Image Rule on a Contracts Essay ("Battle of the Forms")

COUNTEROFFER vs. ACCEPTANCE

When the offeree adds additional or different terms to the offer and sends it back (orally or on paper) – is this an acceptance or a counteroffer?

A counteroffer operates as both a rejection that terminates the original offer AND as a new offer.

MIRROR IMAGE RULE

Under the common law, the terms in the acceptance must match the terms of the offer exactly – otherwise it is not an acceptance, it is a counteroffer.

UCC 2-207 ("BATTLE OF THE FORMS")

Under the UCC, the acceptance does not have to mirror the offer and can include different or additional terms from those in the offer.

UCC § 2-207(1) determines whether the purported acceptance (containing different or additional terms) will operate as an acceptance or as a counteroffer.

It states: (1) A definite and seasonable expression of acceptance or written confirmation; (2) which is sent within a reasonable amount of time; (3) operates as an acceptance even though it states terms additional to or different from those offered or agreed upon; (4) unless acceptance is expressly made conditional upon assent to the additional or different terms. (UCC § 2-207(1)).

If the purported acceptance is a valid acceptance under UCC § 2-207(1), the next issue is whether the additional or different terms in the acceptance will govern the contract or whether UCC gap fillers will be implemented.

Under UCC § 2-207(2), the different or additional terms will govern the contract if BOTH parties are merchants UNLESS: (1) the initial offer expressly limited acceptance to its terms; (2) the different or additional terms materially alter the deal; or (3) the offeror objects to the different or additional terms within a reasonable amount of time.

If either party is NOT a merchant, or any of the 3 exceptions above apply, the different or or additional terms will NOT control and UCC gap fillers will be implemented.

THE KNOCKOUT RULE

Most courts apply the knockout rule with UCC § 2-207(2) to determine whether the new terms control or whether UCC gap fillers must be implemented. Under the knockout rule, a distinction is made between "different" and "additional" terms.

A different term is a term that was not included in the original offer that conflicts with the terms of the original offer. An additional term is a term that was not included in the original offer that does NOT conflict with the original offer.

Under the knockout rule, different terms in the original offer and acceptance knock each other out creating a gap in the contract. UCC gap fillers are then used to plug this gap (regardless of whether the parties are merchants).

The knockout rule does not apply to additional terms added in the acceptance. UCC § 2-207(2) will determine whether the additional terms control or whether UCC gap fillers must be implemented.

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