The Legal Nature Of Smart Contracts

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22478/ufpb.1678-2593.2023v22n49.64859

Keywords:

smart contracts; contract law; blockchain

Abstract

This paper aims to define, at a conceptual level, the phenomenon of smart contracts from the theoretical framework of Hart (1983; 1994) in relation to the meaning of legal concepts to verify their subjection to contractual legal rules. It uses a deductive method and bibliographic research technique to build the internal logic and carry out the conceptual development of smart contracts. Considering the advancement of the use of blockchain technology, the relevance of this analysis lies in the fact that the terminological delimitation serves to justify or verify its subordination to specific legal norms and, therefore, its capacity to disrupt these legal norms, allowing for lege lata deconstruction and lege ferenda reconstruction in line with the functions and disruptions resulting from the innovation. The study concludes that a smart contract is functionally similar to a contract, and therefore should be considered a type of contract for the purpose of subjection to contractual rules. Additionally, the conclusion indicates that it is important for the contractual legal system to consider this new type of contract in the legislative development and evolution.

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Author Biography

Leandro Gobbo, IDP - Instituto Brasileiro de Ensino, Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa

Leandro Oliveira Gobbo é Doutor em Direito pelo IDP, com parte do curso realizado na Oklahoma University, mestre em Direito pela Universidade Católica de Brasília, com bolsa do CNPQ por excelência acadêmica e graduado em Direito pela Universidade de Brasília. Professor da graduação em Direito no IDP e líder do grupo de pesquisa Núcleo de Direito Digital e Disrupção.

Published

2023-05-26

How to Cite

GOBBO, L. The Legal Nature Of Smart Contracts. Prim@ Facie - Law, History and Politics, [S. l.], v. 22, n. 49, 2023. DOI: 10.22478/ufpb.1678-2593.2023v22n49.64859. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufpb.br/index.php/primafacie/article/view/64859. Acesso em: 22 dec. 2024.