Advise the parties as to any rights and liabilities which may arise in the UK law of contract.

Janus is the presenter of Yellow Planet, a popular television programme about the natural world.   At the end of the programme on Sunday, he makes the following announcement: 'If you take a photograph of a song thrush (a small bird) and upload it to the Yellow Planet website by Friday along with your name and address, we will send you a cheque for £50.' 

 

In the Monday edition of Yellow Planet Magazine, Janus advertises his own 'Wildlife Camera' for sale.  The advertisement states: 'Price to be negotiated, starting from £450. Please email Janus @YellowPlanet.com for more information'.

 

On Sunday evening, Vulcan is watching Yellow Planet on television and is delighted as a song thrush regularly visits his garden.  The next morning, he takes a photograph of the bird and uploads it to the website with his name and address. 

 

On Monday, Bellona sees the advertisement for the Wildlife Camera in Yellow Planet Magazine and is very interested.  She immediately emails Janus asking to buy the Wildlife Camera for £400. Janus replies that he is very sorry but he will need £50 more.  Bellona emails back: 'That sounds reasonable to me, but does the camera come with a zoom lens?'  On Tuesday afternoon, Janus replies to Bellona's email letting her know that the Wildlife Camera does indeed come with a zoom lens and that if she wants the camera, she should respond by first class post to reach him by midday on Friday.

 

On Wednesday morning, Yellow Planet is being filmed at Apollo's farm.  During a break, Janus asks Apollo if he would like to buy the Wildlife Camera for £500.  Apollo says, 'I am keen in theory but can you keep the offer open for me until 3pm tomorrow?'. Janus replies, 'It's a deal if you give me a carton of eggs.'  Apollo says, 'Fine.' 

 

On Thursday morning, Apollo decides that he would like the camera for £500 and he immediately rings Janus and tells him. 

 

Later on Thursday morning, Janus posts a letter to Bellona to tell her that his offer is no longer open.  The letter is lost in the post.  On Thursday afternoon, Bellona looks on the Yellow Planet website for Janus's fax number and sends him a fax stating that she will buy the Wildlife Camera for £450. Janus forgets to put paper in his fax machine until Friday 5pm and it is only then that Bellona's fax prints out on his fax machine. 

 

On Friday afternoon, Vulcan is concerned that he has not received his cheque for £50 from Yellow Planet, and so telephones the programmed.  Yellow Planet tells Vulcan that more photographs were uploaded than expected and so he will not get his £50.