message incaseswheretherequirements oftheprotocol arenotsatisfied.A/CN.9/333 English Page16 C.Consent, offerandacceptance 60.Theexpression ofwillthrough distant machines haslongbeenadmitted in caselawinviewofthefactthatthosemachines wereclosely controlled by humanbeings. Itistobenotedthatthequality ofthecommunication that canbeoffered by EDItechnology issuchthaterrorsinthetransmission of messages arelikelytobelessfrequent thanwithmoretraditional techniques. Therefore, theriskofadiscrepancy between themessage asitis sentandthemessage asitisreceived isprobably lessened bytheadoption of EDI.Asregards quality ofcommunication between computers, theuseofa common andstructured application protocol suchasEDIFACT (Electronic Data Interchange forAdministration, Commerce andTransport) isessential forthe increasing useofinternational EDI(seeparagraph 79below). 61.Incontrast withvarious traditional communication techniques, including post,telephone andtelex,EDIcreates newopportunities fortheautomation of thedecision-making process. Forexample, apurchaser's computer maybe programmed tosendpurchase ordersundercertain circumstances, andthe supplier's computer maybeprogrammed toactupontheordersitreceives, both without humanintervention. Thissituation mayincrease thepossibility that, duetothelackofadirectcontrol bytheownersofthemachines, amessage willbesent,andacontract willbeformed, thatdoesnotreflect theactual intentofoneormoreparties atthetimewhenthecontract isformed. For thesamereason, thissituation undoubtedly increases thepossibility that, whereamessage isgenerated thatdoesnotreflect thesender's intent, the errorwillremainunperceived bothbythesender andbythereceiver untilthe mistaken contract hasbeenactedupon. Theconsequences ofsuchanerrorin thegeneration ofamessage mighttherefore begreater withEDIthanwith traditional meansofcommunication. 62.As ageneral rule,onecannotbeboundby acontract towhichonehasnot givenone'sconsent. However, inmanylegalsystems, theownerofaterminal, incertain cases,mightbeboundbycontracts towhichhehadnotpersonally givenhisconsent, 39/suchasintheexamples givenintheprevious paragraph. Intheabsence ofcontractual provisions dealing withthat situation, thepurchaser mightbeboundonseveral legalgrounds including the riskheassumed inimplementing anautomatic purchase ordering systemand, undersomenational laws,theapparent willthatwasexpressed inthe message. 40/ 63.Iftheauthorofacontractual offeroracceptance contends thatthereis adiscrepancy between hisapparent willasreflected intheelectronic transmission andhisactualwill,somelegalsystems provide formechanisms thatallowhimtoestablish hisactualwillintheabsence ofafaultorofa negligence onhispart.Legalrulesonerror,whichtosomeextentwouldalso applyinthecaseoffraud,existinmostlegalsystems, butnational laws differgreatly astowhether ornottheconsequences oftheerroraretobe bornebythepersonwhosemessage hasbeenaltered (seeparagraph 76below). 64.Thevariety andcomplexity ofnational lawsasregards theexpression and validity ofconsent inthecontract-making process, aswellasthe revocability ofanoffer,illustrate theneedforparties toconclude a communication agreement dealing withthatissuepriortotheestablishment of anEDIrelationship, asissometimes donefor"just-in-time" supplycontracts.•• )A/CN.9/333 English Page17 D.General conditions 41/ 65.Asregards general saleconditions, themajorproblem istoknowtowhat extenttheycanbeasserted against theothercontracting party. Inmany countries, thecourtswillconsider whetheritcanreasonably beinferred from thecontext thatthepartyagainst whomgeneral conditions areasserted has hadanopportunity tobeinformed oftheircontents orwhetheritcanbe assumed thatthepartyhasexpressly orimplicitly agreednottoopposeallor partoftheirapplication . 66.Somelegalsystems permitthat, "wheretrading partners haveanestablished history ofdealing on known standard terms,thetermsmaybeincorporated intoindividual transactions bycustomorusage,without theexchange ofadocument on eachindividual occasion. However, thelonger twotradepartners deal without actually exchanging formaltermsofdealing, theweakerthe foundation forthatimplication ofcustomary usagemaybecome". 42/
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the legal and technical aspects of electronic data interchange (EDI) in the context of international trade. It highlights the importance of clear communication and consent in EDI transactions, as well as the potential risks and consequences of errors or discrepancies in the transmission of messages. The text also touches on the topic of general sale conditions and the incorporation of standard terms into individual transactions.

**Category**
International trade, Transport and communication