Section 22-201 - Formal requirements. - Maryland Statutes

§ 22-201. Formal requirements.
 

(a)  In general.- Except as otherwise provided in this section, a contract requiring payment of a contract fee of $5,000 or more is not enforceable by way of action or defense unless: 

(1) The party against which enforcement is sought authenticated a record sufficient to indicate that a contract has been formed and which reasonably identifies the copy or subject matter to which the contract refers; or 

(2) The agreement is a license for an agreed duration of one year or less or which may be terminated at will by the party against which the contract is asserted. 

(b)  Omission or incorrect statement of term.- A record is sufficient under subsection (a) of this section even if it omits or incorrectly states a term, but the contract is not enforceable under that subsection beyond the number of copies or subject matter shown in the record. 

(c)  Enforceability where requirements not met.- A contract that does not satisfy the requirements of subsection (a) of this section is nevertheless enforceable under that subsection if: 

(1) A performance was tendered or the information was made available by one party and the tender was accepted or the information accessed by the other; or 

(2) The party against which enforcement is sought admits in court, by pleading or by testimony or otherwise under oath, facts sufficient to indicate a contract has been made, but the agreement is not enforceable under this paragraph beyond the number of copies or the subject matter admitted. 

(d)  Merchants.- Between merchants, if, within a reasonable time, a record in confirmation of the contract and sufficient against the sender is received and the party receiving it has reason to know its contents, the record satisfies subsection (a) of this section against the party receiving it unless notice of objection to its contents is given in a record within a reasonable time after the confirming record is received. 

(e)  Agreements for future transactions.- An agreement that the requirements of this section need not be satisfied as to future transactions is effective if evidenced in a record authenticated by the person against which enforcement is sought. 

(f)  Statutes of fraud.- A transaction within the scope of this title is not subject to a statute of frauds contained in another law of this State. 
 

[2000, ch. 11.]