Integration of statutory norms in computable contracts
Cosimo Laneve, Alessandro Parenti, Giovanni Sartor · Computer law & security review · 2025
Legal contracts are governed not only by their explicit terms but also by statutory norms, a principle recognized across legal systems. As contracts become computable and executable as code, ensuring compliance with these norms becomes critical. This paper introduces a method for integrating legislative provisions into computable contracts using the Stipula language, via a novel import construct. We distinguish between mandatory and default imports to model imperative and optional legal norms, respectively, and define a mechanism to enforce the priorities between these norms and contract’s provisions. This approach supports the automated creation of legally compliant contracts and lays the foundation for a broader framework aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of consumer rights through programmable legal tools.