C H A P T E R 8
Sales, Licensing, and E-Commerce
TRUE-FALSE QUESTIONS
1. The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act is a federal law.
2. Many states have applied Article 2 of the UCC to software licenses either directly or by analogy.
3. The UCC treats fixtures as goods.
4. The UCC permits a contract to be enforced if the parties intended a binding contract, even though
important terms may have been left open for later agreement.
5. The UCC does not specifically define an offer or an acceptance.
6. The UCC has adopted the “mirror image” rule.
7. Under the UCC, the implied warranty of merchantability guarantees that the goods are reasonably fit
for the general purposes for which they are sold, and that they are properly packaged and labeled.
8. A contract for the sale of land is governed by Article 2 of the UCC.
9. Under the UCC, the buyer may reject any or all of the goods if the goods fail to conform to the
contract.
10. The UCC applies identical rules concerning the sales of goods to merchants and nonmerchants.
11. The UCC requires an obligation of good faith in the performance of every contract or duty covered
by the act.
12. Efforts to create a comprehensive uniform state law for software licensing have been largely
unsuccessful.
13. Procedural unconscionability is easier to prove in a commercial setting than when an individual
consumer is involved.
14. Under the UCC doctrine of commercial impracticability as applied by the UCC, a failure to perform
is a breach even if performance is made impractical by an event unforeseen by the contract.
15. A proposal by a sales representative that is subject to approval by the home office is not an offer.
16. As defined by the UCC, “good faith” involves the observance of objective reasonable commercial
standards of fair dealing but there is no requirement as to honesty in fact.
17. Most states have adopted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
18. Most courts require that a plaintiff prove reliance on an express warranty in order to recover
damages.
19. The implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose may apply to merchants and nonmerchants
alike.
20. A product liability action brought in tort generally permits recovery of economic damages suffered
by a purchaser of an inferior or defective product whereas a breach of warranty action would not
allow such a claim.
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. To which of the following does Article 2 of the UCC apply?
A. The sale of goods.
B. The rendering of services.
C. The sale of land.
D. Both the sale of goods and the rendering of services.
2. What are items of personal property that are attached to real property and cannot be removed without
substantial damage called?
A. Connectors
B. Relaters
C. Entanglements
112 MANAGERS AND THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT
D. Fixtures
3. Which of the following was the result in Richardson v. Union Carbide Industrial Gases, Inc., the
case in the text involving the effect of contradictory terms in pre-printed forms?
A. The court applied the rule that the offeror’s terms control.
B. The court applied the rule that the offeree’s terms control.
C. The court applied the knockout rule and found that the conflicting terms fell out of the contract.
D. The court adopted the assimilation view whereby terms of the offer prevail over the different
terms in the acceptance only if the latter are materially different.
4. To which of the following does the term “battle of the forms” refer?
A. The situation in which one of the parties wishes to use a preprinted form, but the other party
wishes to engage in direct negotiation.
B. The situation in which the parties entered into a formal contract, but the contract has been
misplaced by both parties resulting in uncertainty regarding the exact terms of the original contract.
C. The situation in which parties have neglected to bargain over items and then exchange standard
printed forms resulting in confusion regarding the terms of the contract.
D. The situation in which a party wishes to claim unconscionability based upon another party’s use
of a preprinted form.
5. According to the UCC, if no amount of time is specifically stated, a firm offer provided by a
merchant must be kept open for a reasonable period of time, up to _____.
A. one year
B. six months
C. three months
D. sixty days
6. Under the Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), an offer becomes
effective when
A. the offeror sends it
B. it reaches the offeree
C. the offeree reads it
D. the offeree replies
7. Under the UCC statute of frauds, which of the following terms must be in a writing order to satisfy
the statute?
A. The price
B. The quantity
C. The identity of the parties
D. The time and place for delivery
8. If a sales contract requires or authorizes the seller to ship goods by carrier, when does the risk of loss
pass to the buyer if the contract does not require delivery at a particular destination?
A. At the time the goods are properly delivered to the carrier.
B. At the time the carrier tenders the goods to the buyer.
C. At the time the contract is initially entered into.
D. Not until the buyer has received the goods and had a chance to inspect them.
9. Under the UCC, a firm offer only applies to
A. merchants
B. merchants and non-merchants
C. non-merchants
D. option contracts
10. Which of the following is governed by Article 2 of the UCC?
A. A contract for sale of a commercial building.
B. A contract for sale of office supplies.
C. An employment contract.
D. A life insurance contract.
11. UCC Section 2-319 expressly authorizes the buyer and seller to allocate the risk of ________
between them as they see fit.
A. damages
B. specific performance
C. modification
D. loss
12. If a sales contract requires the seller to ship the goods by carrier and specifies the destination, the
risk of loss passes to the buyer
A. when the goods are properly delivered to the carrier.
B. when the carrier tenders the goods to the buyer at the specified destination.
C. when the contract is finalized.
D. when the seller pays for the goods.
13. When the seller provides the buyer with a document enabling them to pick up goods held at an
independent warehouse, the risk of loss passes to the buyer
A. when the goods are picked up by the buyer.
B. when the contract of sale is signed.
C. when the buyer receives the document entitling it to pick up the goods.
D. when the buyer pays for the goods.
14. A contract is ________ when one party is induced to enter a contract without having any meaningful
choice.
A. substantively unconscionable
B. procedurally unconscionable
C. procedurally impracticable
D. substantively impracticable
15. A contract is ________ if its terms are unduly harsh or oppressive or unreasonably favorable to one
side.
A. substantively unconscionable
B. procedurally unconscionable
C. procedurally impracticable
D. substantively impracticable
16. Under the UCC, if only one party is a merchant, an acceptance containing additional terms
A. automatically becomes part of the contract unless the offeror objects within ten days.
B. is considered a proposal for additions to the contract.
C. is a counteroffer.
D. has no effect and the contract is accepted without the new terms.
17. Which of the following is an example a statement made by a salesperson that would be considered
“puffing”?
A. This car will get 35 miles per gallon.
B. This is a genuine diamond ring.
C. This is an original work of art.
D. This copier is the best in the business.
18. Which of the following is true regarding the UCC’s statute of frauds?
A. The writing involved must be typed, not handwritten.
B. The writing must be signed by the party to be charged, not necessarily by all parties
C. Any warranties must be included in the writing in order to be enforceable
D. The UCC’s requirements regarding a writing are strict and place significant burdens on the
parties in regard to adequately including all terms of the agreement in the writing.
19. Which of the following is not a type of warranty under the UCC?
A. Express
B. Fitness for a particular purpose
C. Merchantability
D. Specific performance
20. Which of the following is the essential consideration under the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act
for determining the validity of an electronic signature?
A. Whether the person intended the process or mark provided to act as a signature and whether it
can be attributed to that person.
B. Whether an actual signature, as opposed to some sort of unacceptable click-type agreement is
involved.
C. Whether an actual written type signature appears as opposed to an unacceptable typed name.
D. Whether an actual written or typed signature appears as opposed to some sort of facsimile.
21. Which of the following is true regarding the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act in relation to the
E-Sign Act?
A. Because the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act is a federal law, whereas the E-Sign Act is a
creature of state law, the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act preempts the E-Sign Act in many
ways.
116 MANAGERS AND THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT
B. The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and also the E-Sign Act exclude wills from their
coverage.
C. Both the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and the E-Sign Act include within their broad
scope provisions that divorces may be entered into and recorded electronically.
D. The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act allows electronic signatures whereas the E-Sign Act
disallows such signatures.
22. Which of the following is an online agreement that appears on a website but does not require the
user to take any action to express his or her consent to the agreement?
A. Click-wrap license
B. Browse-wrap agreement
C. Shrink-wrap license
D. Computer-license agreement
23. ________ do not relieve a contracting party from their responsibilities under the UCC doctrine of
commercial impracticability.
A. Wars
B. Market fluctuations
C. Embargoes
D. Market fluctuations and embargoes
24. A(n) ________ contract occurs when one party is induced to enter a contract on a “take it or leave it”
basis.
A. adhesion
B. merchants
C. output
D. requirement
25. Which of the following will not create an express warranty under the UCC?
A. Making a statement or promise relating to the goods.
B. Expressing an opinion about the quality of the goods.
C. Providing a description of the goods.
D. Stating any fact regarding the quality of the goods.
26. A license which places the license terms on the outside of a box containing software is referred to as
which of the following?
A. Click-wrap license
B. Browse-wrap agreement
C. Shrink-wrap license
D. Computer-license agreement
27. The few cases that have considered click-wrap licenses have generally found which of the
following?
A. That the licenses are enforceable
B. That the licenses are enforceable only for software costing $100 or less
C. That the licenses are enforceable only for software costing $100 or less and that is designed for
business, not consumer use
D. That the licenses are unenforceable
28. Chris sold Valerie a home containing a wood stove which could not be removed from the home
without causing substantial damage. Shortly after the sale, Valerie sustained significant smoke
damage due to a malfunction of the stove. She told Chris that she was going to sue him under the
UCC. Chris told her that was not possible. Which of the following is true?
A. Chris is correct because the stove would likely be a fixture not covered by the UCC.
B. Valerie is correct because the stove would likely be a fixture covered by the UCC.
C. Valerie is correct because the stove would not be considered a fixture and would, therefore, be
covered by the UCC.
D. Valerie is correct because the sale of the home would be covered under the UCC along with
anything else sold with the home.
29. Ricardo develops a new type of software and asks you how he should go about making money
through distribution of it. He has been told that he should sell the software as opposed to issuing
licenses for its use. What should you tell him?
A. That by selling, rather than by licensing, a software vendor can avoid the doctrine of first sale,
which allows a lawful owner to sell or otherwise dispose of the copy.
B. That by licensing, rather than by selling, a software vendor can avoid the doctrine of first sale,
which allows a lawful owner to sell or otherwise dispose of the copy.
C. That selling is the only reasonable alternative because computer programs are not copyrightable.
D. That licensing is the only reasonable alternative because computer programs are not
copyrightable.
OBJECTIVE: AICPA: Critical Thinking
30. In a state that had adopted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, Kiera and Ben entered into a
contract whereby Ben would clean Kiera’s house once a week for eighteen months for $75 per week.
The transaction was done electronically, and both Kiera and Ben signed through the use of an
electronic signature. Unfortunately, problems resulted when Ben failed to show up as scheduled.
Ben told Kiera that the contract was not good because his signature was made electronically. Kiera
told him that he was wrong and that he needs to get up to date with the modern age. Which of the
following is correct regarding the dispute?
A. Ben is correct because electronic signatures are not recognized as valid under any circumstances.
B. Ben is correct only if Kiera’s name was typed as opposed to being shown in handwriting-style
(cursive) form.
C. Kiera is correct that the signature is sufficient only if she can show that she and Ben had
previously engaged in electronic transactions.
D. Kiera is correct that her electronic signature is sufficient.
31. Polly sold Jason a used car for $1,000. Their contract provided that the engine in the car was in
good shape, a true statement as far as Polly knew. Unfortunately, the day after Jason purchased the
car, it broke down and was discovered to have significant engine problems. Jason told Polly that he
wanted a refund. Polly told him that he was not entitled to a refund because she did not lie and that
as far as she knew, there was nothing wrong with the car. Which of the following is true?
A. Jason is entitled to a refund because of a breach of an express warranty.
B. Jason is entitled to a refund because of a breach of the implied warranty of fitness for a particular
purpose.
C. Jason is entitled to a refund only if he can obtain evidence that Polly lied.
D. Jason is not entitled to a refund under any circumstances because the vehicle was used.
32. Renee owns a small restaurant that sells hamburgers as one of its main attractions. She puts up a
sign that says “Best Burgers in the County”. Peter does an exhaustive investigation of all restaurants
in the county and asks his friends to do the same. They all determine that actually a restaurant run
by their friend Sam has the best burgers in the county. Peter tells Renee that unless she takes down
her sign, he is going to sue her for breach of warranty and false advertising. Renee tells him that he
has no cause of action. Who is correct?
A. Peter is correct so long as he and his friends can convince the jurors in a lawsuit that Sam has the
best burgers.
B. Peter is correct only if he can establish that Renee was aware that Sam’s burgers actually taste
better before she put up the sign.
C. Peter is incorrect because Renee was engaged in “spoofing”.
D. Peter is incorrect because Renee was engaged in “puffing”.
CHAPTER 8 SALES, LICENSING, AND E-COMMERCE 119
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. Between merchants, what is the affect of an acceptance that includes additional terms without
expressly making the contract subject to the offeror’s agreeing to those terms?
2. Explain the different types of warranties that exist under the UCC.
3. Indicate how a seller may disclaim warranties under the UCC.
4. Why do vendors today typically prefer to license software rather than sell it outright?
5. What does Section 201 of the UCC provide regarding a statute of frauds?
120 MANAGERS AND THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT
6. What is the rule regarding the enforceability of a contract for the sale of goods that comes within the
statute of frauds if no quantity is specified?
7. What must be established in order for goods to be considered merchantable under the UCC?