The impact of blockchain technology in private contracting: towards intelligent contracting?

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Rosa Barceló Compte
University of Barcelona

The present study investigates the impact of blockchain technology into contractual law through the so-called smart contracts and its place within the legal system. Thus, the concept of smart contracts is approached and the main characteristics of blockchain technology and smart contracts are examined, as well as the substantive limits of these contracts.


To that end, the differences with traditional contracts are presented and, in relation to smart contracts, upgrades mechanisms are suggested. Likewise, the given consent by the parties within this form of contracting is discussed and the necessary notarial intervention is laid down with the goal of protecting that consent.


Ultimately, a smart arbitration model is proposed in order to relieve the automation effect of smart contracts.

Keywords
smart contracts, blockchain, arbitration, contract law, consumer, consent

Article Details

How to Cite
Barceló Compte, Rosa. “The impact of blockchain technology in private contracting: towards intelligent contracting?”. IDP. Internet, Law and Politics E-Journal, 2021, no. 33, doi:10.7238/idp.v0i33.375171.
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(c) Rosa Barceló Compte, 2021


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Author Biography

Rosa Barceló Compte, University of Barcelona

Dr. Rosa Barceló is currently professor of civil law and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Barcelona.

Her predoctoral academic trajectory started in the year 2014, when she became part of the research group on law and new technologies at the University of Barcelona, headed by Drs. Mariló Gramunt and Gemma Rubio. In October 2018 she presented the thesis titled: “Unfair advantage and protection of the weak party in the contract”, for which she received the cum laude qualification with excellence, and which received, a posteriori, the outstanding doctorate prize in the Faculty of Law. Finally, Marcial Pons published the monograph by Dr. Barceló with the same title as the doctoral thesis in the year 2019.

Her research has been directed towards the subjects involved in the economic rebalancing of contracts, the conservation of legal transaction and the protection of the weak party. She has also completed research in the field of the sharing economy, and currently her research is focused on intelligent contracting in the digital world.

She has completed research stays at the University of Utrecht and the University of Milan, and has published various articles and scientific collaborations in collective works.

Furthermore, she has given lectures at UB itself and at the University of Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona. Currently, in addition to her work at UB, she is collaborating as a lecturer at UOC.

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