Evaluation of a Legally Binding Smart-Contract Language for Blockchain Applications

Blockchain governs inter-organizational business processes and enables decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO) with governance capabilities via smart contracts (SC). Due to the programmer’s lack of prior knowledge of the contract domain, SCs are ambiguous and error-prone. Several...

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Main Authors: Vimal Dwivedi, Mubashar Iqbal, Alex Norta, Raimundas Matulevičius
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Graz University of Technology 2023-07-01
Series:Journal of Universal Computer Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://lib.jucs.org/article/97112/download/pdf/
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author Vimal Dwivedi
Mubashar Iqbal
Alex Norta
Raimundas Matulevičius
author_facet Vimal Dwivedi
Mubashar Iqbal
Alex Norta
Raimundas Matulevičius
author_sort Vimal Dwivedi
collection DOAJ
description Blockchain governs inter-organizational business processes and enables decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO) with governance capabilities via smart contracts (SC). Due to the programmer’s lack of prior knowledge of the contract domain, SCs are ambiguous and error-prone. Several works, i.e., SPESC, Symboleo, and SmaCoNat, exist to support the legally-binding SCs. The aforementioned SCLs present intriguing approaches to building legally-binding SCs but either lack domain completeness, or are intended for non-collaborative business processes. In our previous work, we address the above-mentioned shortcomings of the XML-based smart-legal-contract markup language (SLCML), in which blockchain developers focus on the contractual workflow rather than the syntax specifics. However, SLCML, as a blockchain-independent formal specification language, is not evaluated to determine its applicability, usefulness, and usability for establishing legally-binding SCs for workflow enactment services (WES) to automate and streamline the business processes within connected organizations. In accordance with this, we formally implement the SLCML and propose evaluation approaches, such as running case and lab experiments, to demonstrate the SLCML’s generality and applicability for developing legally-binding SCs. Overall, the results of this work ascertain the applicability, usefulness, and usability of the proposed SLCML for establishing legally-binding SCs for WES.
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spelling doaj.art-8ecfbaba3d1748ecab149bf9482989a12023-07-30T08:11:05ZengGraz University of TechnologyJournal of Universal Computer Science0948-69682023-07-0129769171710.3897/jucs.9711297112Evaluation of a Legally Binding Smart-Contract Language for Blockchain ApplicationsVimal Dwivedi0Mubashar Iqbal1Alex Norta2Raimundas Matulevičius3University of TartuUniversity of TartuTallinn UniversityUniversity of TartuBlockchain governs inter-organizational business processes and enables decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO) with governance capabilities via smart contracts (SC). Due to the programmer’s lack of prior knowledge of the contract domain, SCs are ambiguous and error-prone. Several works, i.e., SPESC, Symboleo, and SmaCoNat, exist to support the legally-binding SCs. The aforementioned SCLs present intriguing approaches to building legally-binding SCs but either lack domain completeness, or are intended for non-collaborative business processes. In our previous work, we address the above-mentioned shortcomings of the XML-based smart-legal-contract markup language (SLCML), in which blockchain developers focus on the contractual workflow rather than the syntax specifics. However, SLCML, as a blockchain-independent formal specification language, is not evaluated to determine its applicability, usefulness, and usability for establishing legally-binding SCs for workflow enactment services (WES) to automate and streamline the business processes within connected organizations. In accordance with this, we formally implement the SLCML and propose evaluation approaches, such as running case and lab experiments, to demonstrate the SLCML’s generality and applicability for developing legally-binding SCs. Overall, the results of this work ascertain the applicability, usefulness, and usability of the proposed SLCML for establishing legally-binding SCs for WES.https://lib.jucs.org/article/97112/download/pdf/BlockchainLegally-binding smart contractDecent
spellingShingle Vimal Dwivedi
Mubashar Iqbal
Alex Norta
Raimundas Matulevičius
Evaluation of a Legally Binding Smart-Contract Language for Blockchain Applications
Journal of Universal Computer Science
Blockchain
Legally-binding smart contract
Decent
title Evaluation of a Legally Binding Smart-Contract Language for Blockchain Applications
title_full Evaluation of a Legally Binding Smart-Contract Language for Blockchain Applications
title_fullStr Evaluation of a Legally Binding Smart-Contract Language for Blockchain Applications
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of a Legally Binding Smart-Contract Language for Blockchain Applications
title_short Evaluation of a Legally Binding Smart-Contract Language for Blockchain Applications
title_sort evaluation of a legally binding smart contract language for blockchain applications
topic Blockchain
Legally-binding smart contract
Decent
url https://lib.jucs.org/article/97112/download/pdf/
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AT raimundasmatulevicius evaluationofalegallybindingsmartcontractlanguageforblockchainapplications