Contract Sentence

A Contract Sentence is a linguistic sentence drawn from within a contract agreement document.

• Context:
  • It can (often) specify the Contractual Duties, Contractual Rights, Contractual Penalties, or Contractual Conditions agreed upon by the parties involved in the contract.
  • It can (often) be crafted using Contract Language Terminology.
  • It can (often) be structured to be Legally Binding and Legally Enforceable.
  • It can range from being a Neutral-Position Contract Sentence (balances party risk) to being a Position-Favoring Contract Sentence (that may favor one party's interests over another's).
  • It can range from being a Untouched Contract Sentence to being an Annotated Contract Sentence.
  • It can be referenced in Court Proceedings.
  • It can be referenced by a Contract Process.
  • It can be an input to a Contract Sentence Task, such as contract sentence semantic parsing.
  • It can be associated with a Contract Sentence Category (by contract sentence classification task).
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • One which outlines a restriction on subletting, such as: "The lessee shall not sublet any portion of the premises without the lessor's prior written consent."
  • One which specifies a payment obligation, such as: "Payment shall be due within 30 days of receiving the invoice."
  • One which asserts the retention of intellectual property rights, such as: "All intellectual property rights are retained by the provider."
  • One that imposes documentation and confidentiality obligations, such as: "Within a reasonable time after receiving a timely Request for Information and an executed Audit Confidentiality Agreement, both Landlord and Tenant shall endeavor to comply with the provisions set forth in the lease agreement, allowing for the execution of necessary documentation and the inspection of pertinent records, thus maintaining a balanced relationship that respects both parties' obligations and rights under the lease."
  • an Annotated Contract Sentence, such as:
    • “Landlord shall provide Tenant with reasonable access to the Premises_{(PRIMARY_OBLIGATION, LANDLORD_OBLIGATION, ACCESS_PERMISSION)}¹ during normal business hours_{(PERMITTED_ACCESS_TIMES)}², subject to Landlord's security procedures and regulations_{(ACCESS_CONDITION, SECURITY_PROCEDURES_COMPLIANCE, REGULATIONS_COMPLIANCE)}³."
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • A Non-Binding Agreement Sentence, which expresses intentions or expectations without creating legal obligations.
  • A General Business Communication Sentence, which might convey information or intentions in a business context but does not have the legal force of a contract sentence.
  • A Legal Definition, which provides the meaning of a term used within a contract but does not itself express an obligation, right, or condition.
• See: Contract Sentence Similarity, Legal Drafting, Contract Management Software, Legal Interpretation, Contract Clause, Legal Terminology, Legal Provision, Agreement Term.

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References

2024

• (ChatGPT-OpenAI, 2024) ⇒ Prompt: Summarize the concept Contract Sentence (linguistic, sentence within a contract) in 1- 2 paragraphs. ChatGPT (model:gpt-4o). Retrieved: 2024-06-22.
  • QUOTE: A Contract Sentence in linguistics refers to a sentence within a legal contract that clearly specifies the rights, obligations, and conditions agreed upon by the parties involved. These sentences are crucial for ensuring clarity and minimizing ambiguity in legal agreements, providing explicit directives or declarations that the involved parties must adhere to. Contract sentences are meticulously crafted to cover every possible contingency and to outline the exact terms of the contractual engagement, which may include deliverables, deadlines, penalties, and more.

    Such sentences are often characterized by their precise, formal, and often technical language, which is designed to leave little room for interpretation or misinterpretation. By delineating specific conditions and expectations, contract sentences help mitigate potential disputes and provide a clear framework for enforcement and resolution should conflicts arise. The comprehensiveness and precision of these sentences underpin the legal integrity and enforceability of the entire contract.

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