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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>373305</law_id><section_number>59.1-507.1</section_number><catch_line>Breach of contract; material breach</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="127" identifier="59.1">Trade and Commerce</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="80" identifier="43">Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="7" identifier="7">Breach of Contract</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> Whether a party is in breach of <span class="dictionary">contract</span> is determined by the agreement or, in the absence of agreement, this chapter. A breach occurs if a party without legal excuse fails to perform an obligation in a timely manner, repudiates a <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, or exceeds a contractual use term, or otherwise is not in compliance with an obligation placed on it by this chapter or the agreement. A breach, whether or not <span class="dictionary">material</span>, entitles the <span class="dictionary">aggrieved party</span> to its remedies. Whether a breach of a contractual use term is an infringement or a misappropriation is determined by applicable informational property rights <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-1393066" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-507.1/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> A breach of <span class="dictionary">contract</span> is <span class="dictionary">material</span> if: <a id="paragraph-1393067" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-507.1/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> the <span class="dictionary">contract</span> so provides; <a id="paragraph-1393068" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-507.1/#b1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> the breach is a substantial failure to perform a term that is an essential element of the agreement; or <a id="paragraph-1393069" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-507.1/#b2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> the circumstances, including the language of the agreement, the reasonable expectations of the parties, the standards and practices of the business, trade, or industry, and the character of the breach, indicate that: <a id="paragraph-1393070" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-507.1/#b3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> the breach caused or is likely to cause substantial harm to the <span class="dictionary">aggrieved party</span>; or <a id="paragraph-1393071" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-507.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> the breach substantially deprived or is likely substantially to deprive the <span class="dictionary">aggrieved party</span> of a significant benefit it reasonably expected under the <span class="dictionary">contract</span>. <a id="paragraph-1393072" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-507.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> The cumulative effect of nonmaterial breaches may be <span class="dictionary">material</span>. <a id="paragraph-1393073" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-507.1/#c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2000, cc. 101, 996.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
