Legal Framework of Smart Contracts Integrated in Block Chain Technology "Comparative Descriptive Analytical Study" in Light of the Saudi Civil Transactions System / الإطار القانوني للعقود الذكية المدمجة عبر تقنية البلوك تشين دراسة وصفية تحليلية مقارنة في ضوء نظام المعاملات المدنية السعودي

نوع المستند : المقالة الأصلية

المؤلف

AMUOT KOTOR TANTA, KOTOR

المستخلص

Through this study, we discussed the legal framework of smart contracts integrated with blockchain technology. We clarified that blockchain technology, among various technologies, has elevated the trust and credibility of smart contracts to significant levels. This technology is distinguished by unique advantages that enhance the current conditions in smart contracts, where the role of the parties is limited to approving or disapproving the contractual terms without any interference or modification.
In the context of our study, we explained the nature of blockchain technology, highlighting its features and drawbacks. Subsequently, we provided an elucidation of smart contracts, defining them and outlining their key characteristics. We addressed the legal challenges facing smart contracts due to their use of the internet and blockchain technology, in comparison to traditional contracts. Additionally, we highlighted the regulatory stance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding this technology, including its position on smart contracts, referencing the newly enacted Saudi Civil Transactions System.
 
من خلال هذه الدراسة، ناقشنا الإطار القانوني للعقود الذكية المدمجة في تقنية البلوكشين. ووضحنا أن تقنية البلوكشين، من بين التقنيات التي قد  رفعت مستوى الثقة والمصداقية في العقود الذكية إلى مستويات كبيرة تتميز هذه التكنولوجيا بمزايا فريدة تعزز الظروف الحالية في العقود الذكية، حيث يكون دور الأطراف مقتصرًا على الموافقة أو عدم الموافقة على علي شروط التعاقد دون أي تدخل أو تعديل
في سياق دراستنا، شرحنا طبيعة تقنية البلوكشين، وأبرزنا مميزاتها وعيوبها. بعد ذلك، قدمنا توضيحًا للعقود الذكية، مع تعريفها وسرد سماتها الرئيسية. وتناولنا التحديات القانونية التي تواجه العقود الذكية بسبب استخدامها للإنترنت وتقنية البلوك تشين، بالمقارنة مع العقود التقليدية. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، أبرزنا الموقف التنظيمي في المملكة العربية السعودية تجاه هذه التكنولوجيا، بما في ذلك موقفها من العقود الذكية، وذلك بالإشارة إلى نظام المعاملات المدنية السعودي الجديد

الكلمات الرئيسية


  1. References

    1. Abu Lail, Ibrahim El-Desouky (2020). Smart Contracts and Artificial Intelligence, and Their Role in Automating Contracts and Legal Transactions. Journal of Law, Scientific Publishing Council, Kuwait University, Volume 44, Issue 4.
    2. Ahmed El-Baraei (2020). Establishing and Executing Transactional Contracts Between Traditional Methods and Blockchain Technology and Smart Contracts. Journal of the College of Islamic Studies and Education for Boys in Cairo, Issue 4/39.
    3. Al-Balushi, Ahmed Khaled (2019). Introduction to Smart Contracts, Al Baraka's 39th Seminar on Islamic Economics, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
    4. Al-Dabousi, Mustafa Ahmed (2020). Legal Challenges of Smart Agent Contracting for Smart Commercial Contracts in the Era of Blockchain. Kuwait International Law School Journal, Issue 8.
    5. Al-Khatib, Mohammad Erfan (2020). The Credibility and Methodology of Smart Contracts. Kuwait International Law School Journal, Volume 8, Issue 30.
    6. Al-Jaroudi, A., & Altounjy, R. (2021). The Legal Challenges of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues, 24(3), 1-15.
    7. Al-Jaroudi, A., & Altounjy, R. (2021). The Legal Challenges of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues, 24(3), 1-15.
    8. Andoni, M., Robu, V., Flynn, D., Abram, S., Geach, D., Jenkins, D., McCallum, P., & Peacock, A. (2019). Blockchain technology in the energy sector: A systematic review of challenges and opportunities. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 100, 143–174.
    9. Aparicio Bijuesca, M. B. (2018, Sept.). The Challenges associated with Smart contracts: Formation, Modification, and Enforcement. In Smart Contracts: Is the Law Ready?
    10. Badr, Bilal Adnan (2017). The Law Applicable to E-commerce Contracts: A Comparative Study. Badran Legal Library, Sidon, Lebanon.
    11. Baker, Ismat Abdelmajeed (2015). The Role of Scientific Technologies in Contract Evolution. Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition.
    12. Beckham, J. A., & Sendra, M. (2018, September 26). Smart Contracts Lead the Way to Blockchain Implementation. Thomson Reuters.
    13. Berryhill, J., Bourgery, T., & Hanson, A. (2018). Blockchain technology and its use in the public sector. OECD Working Papers on Public Governance, (28).
    14. Boucher, P., Nascimento, S., & Kritikos, M. (2017). How blockchain technology could change our lives. Publications Office of the European Union.
    15. Buterin, V. (2015, August 7). On Public and Private Blockchains. Ethereum Foundation Blog.
    16. Cong, L. & He, Z. (2018). Blockchain Disruption and Smart Contracts.
    17. Cong, L. W., He, Z., & Lin, W. (2019). Blockchain Disruption and Smart Contracts. The Review of Financial Studies, 32(5), 1754-1797.
    18. Crosby, Michael (2015). "Bitcoin and Beyond: Blockchain Technology". Sutardja Center for Technology & Entrepreneurship, University of California, Berkeley.
    19. Durovic, M. (2019). The Formation of Smart Contracts and Beyond: Shaking the Fundamentals of Contract Law? In Smart Contracts and Blockchain Technology: Role of Contract Law. King's College London.
    20. EYAL MALINGER (2017, November 18). Block chain could ‘Change Everything’ for Real Estate, Venture Beat.
    21. Gaber Ashraf (2022). Blockchain and Copyright Rights, Towards Smart Protection of Digital Works. Dar Al-Nahda Al-Arabiya, Second Edition.
    22. Ghaleb, Abdelkader (2018). Blockchain and Development of Legal Systems. International Islamic Economics Magazine, Issue 81.
    23. Hanaa Mohamed Hilal Huneiti (2019). The Nature of Smart Contracts. Paper Presented at the 24th Session of the Islamic Fiqh Academy Conference, Dubai, Cited from Abu Ghazaleh, Talal, Knowledge Revolution, Amman, Jordan, 1st Edition.
    24. Hassan, Hussam El-Din Mahmoud (2023). Smart Contracts Executed via Blockchain Technology. Legal Journal, University of Cairo, Khartoum Branch, Issue 16(1), Pages 1-52.
    25. Hinkes, A. (2014, July 29). Blockchains, Smart Contracts, and the Death of Specific Performance. Inside Counsel.
    26. Issa, Haitham El-Sayed (2021). The Emergence of Smart Contracts in the Blockchain Era. Dar Al-Nahda Al-Arabiya, First Edition.
    27. Issa, Haitham El-Sayed (2018). The Obligation of Pre-contractual Interpretation through Artificial Intelligence Systems.
    28. Jaccard, G. (2017, November 23). Smart Contracts and the Role of Law. Jusletter IT.
    29. Joseph J. Bambara Paul R. Allen (2018). Blockchain A Practical Guide to Developing Business, Law, and Technology Solutions, McGraw-Hill Education.
    30. Khaled Mamdouh Ibrahim (2006). Formation of Electronic Contract. Dar El-Fikr El-Jamie, Alexandria, First Edition.
    31. Maamar Bin Tariya (2019). Smart Contracts Embedded in Blockchain: What Challenges to the Current Contract System? Kuwait International Law School Journal, Special Supplement, Issue 4, Part 1.
    32. Muhammad Ahmed Atia (2021). Smart Arbitration as a Mechanism for Resolving Disputes of Contracts Formed via Blockchain Technology. Journal of Fiqh and Legal Research, Issue 36, April 2021.
    33. Nariman Masoud Bourghda (2019). Blockchain Contracts "Smart Contracts" from a Contract Law Perspective. Algerian Journal of Legal, Political and Economic Sciences, Volume 56, Issue 2.
    34. Nariman Masoud Bourghda (2019). Blockchain Contracts "Smart Contracts" from a Contract Law Perspective. Algerian Journal of Legal, Political and Economic Sciences, Volume 56, Issue 2.
    35. Polrot, S. (n.d.). Les Oracles, lien entre la Blockchain et le monde.
    36. Raskin, M. (2017). The law and legality of smart contracts. Georgetown Law Technology Review,
    37. Roda, C. (2018). Smart contracts, dumb contracts. Dalloz IP/IT.
    38. Sano, Q. (2019). Smart Contracts in the Light of Origins, Intentions, and Fate - An Analytical Vision. In Conference of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, 24th Meeting, Dubai.
    39. Shadab, H. B. (2014, October 9). Regulating Bitcoin and Block Chain Derivatives. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Global Markets Advisory Committee.
    40. Stark, J. (2016). Making Sense of Blockchain Smart Contracts. [Blog] Coin desk.
    41. Szabo, N. (1997, Sept.). Smart Contracts: Formalizing and Securing Public Networks. First Monday, (9).
    42. Williamson, O. E. (1975). Markets and Hierarchies: Analysis and Antitrust Implications. Free Press.

    8.1: French References

    1. Ancel, B. (2018). Les smart contracts: révolution sociétale ou nouvelle boîte de Pandore? Regard comparatiste. Communication - Commerce Électronique, (78), Juillet-Août. Lexisnexis.
    2. Dondero, B. (2017, Décembre). Les smart Contracts. In Le Droit civil à l’ère du numérique.
    3. Douville, T. (2018). Blockchain et tiers de confiance: incompatibilité ou complémentarité. Recueil Dalloz.
    4. Guerlain, G. (2017). Le smart contrat est un programme informatique dont la fonction consiste à former, exécuter ou éteindre automatiquement un contrat qui, en toute hypothèse, ne se confond pas avec lui. Dalloz IP/IT, p. 512.
    5. Jean, B., & de Filippi, P. (2016). Les Smart Contracts, les nouveaux contrats augmentés ?. Conseils et Entreprises.
    6. Marique, E. (2019, Janv.). Les Smart Contracts en Belgique: une destruction utopique du besoin de confiance. Dalloz IP/IT. Paris.
    7. Mekki, M. (2018). Le contrat, objet des smart contracts (Partie 1). Dalloz IP/IT. Paris.
    8. Mekki, M. (2019, Janv.). Le contrat, objet des smart contracts (Partie 2). Dalloz IP/IT. Paris.
    9. Moreau, Y. (2016). Enjeux de la technologie de Blockchain. Recueil Dalloz, Paris.
    10. Rabesandratana, V., & Bacca, N. (2017, Août). L’Oracle hardware: la couche de confiance entre les Blockchain et le monde physique. Réalités Industrielles.
    11. Roda, C. (2018). Smart contracts, dumb contracts. Dalloz IP/IT. Paris.
    12. Toledano, J. (2018, Juin). Les enjeux des blockchains. France Stratégie. Retrieved from vie-publique.fr

    8.2: The legal systems and legislations

    1- The Saudi Electronic Transactions System was issued by Royal Decree No. M/18 on 8/3/1428, and Ministerial Council Resolution No. 80 on 7/3/1428.

    2- The Saudi Civil Transactions System issued by Royal Decree No. M/191 on the 1st of Dhu al-Hijjah 1444.

    3- United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce (1996)"

    4-The French Civil Code was first enacted in 1804.