Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nr4z6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-30T11:39:08.723Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Art. 19 CISG–PECL, by Pilar Perales Viscasillas [Spain]

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2009

Pilar Perales Viscasillas
Affiliation:
Professor of Commercial Law, University Carlos III of Madrid
John Felemegas
Affiliation:
University of Technology, Sydney
Get access

Summary

THE MIRROR IMAGE RULE AND MODIFIED ACCEPTANCE

An acceptance must coincide with each and every term of an offer in order to conclude a contract (see Articles 19(1) CISG and 2:208(1) PECL). This requirement is known as the “mirror image rule” because the acceptance must be the very reflection of the offer, as in a mirror. An exception is established for the possible introduction of new terms into the acceptance that do not substantially alter the offer. In that case, the acceptance will be valid; the contract will consist of both the terms of the offer and those included in the acceptance that do not substantially alter the offer, so long as the offeror without delay does not object to the new terms (Articles 19(2) CISG and 2:208(3)(b) PECL), or the offer does not expressly limit acceptance to the terms of the offer (Article 2:208(1) PECL), or the offeree does not make his acceptance conditional upon the offeror's assent to the additional or different terms and the assent reaches the offeree within a reasonable time (Article 2:208(3)(c) PECL).

On the other hand, if an element that is included in the acceptance adds new terms, modifies the terms of the offer, or introduces any other type of limitation to the offer that substantially alters it, the contract will not be considered concluded; the response to the offer will be regarded as a counter-offer – that is, if it meets all requirements under the CISG or the PECL to be considered an offer in and of itself (see Articles 14 CISG and 2:208(1) PECL).

Type
Chapter

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×