Formal Modeling and Analysis of Legal Contracts using ContractCheck
Abstract
We describe a method and tool called ContractCheck that allows for the consistency analysis of legal contracts, in particular Sales Purchase Agreements (SPAs). The analysis relies on an encoding of the premises for the execution of the clauses of an SPA as well as the proposed consistency constraints using decidable fragments of first-order logic. Textual SPAs are first encoded in a structured natural language format, called blocks. ContractCheck interprets these blocks and constraints and translates them in first-oder logic assertions. It then invokes a Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) solver in order to establish the executability of a considered contract by either providing a satisfying model, or by providing evidence of contradictory clauses that impede the execution of the contract. We illustrate the application of ContractCheck and conclude by proposing directions for future research.
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