Matching-Acceptance Rule Law and Legal Definition
Matching acceptance rule is a common law principle of contract law that for a contract to be formed, the terms of an acceptance must correspond exactly with those of the offer. Acceptance of a contractual offer must be positive, unconditional, unequivocal, and unambiguous, and must not change, add to, or qualify the terms of the offer. This is also known as the mirror image rule or ribbon matching rule. However, UCC § 2-207(1) rejects the common law mirror image rule and provides that a "definite and seasonable expression of acceptance or a written confirmation which is sent within a reasonable time operates as an acceptance even though it states terms additional to or different from those offered or agreed upon, unless acceptance is expressly made conditional on assent to the additional or different terms."
