It has legal effect, but the probative force is weak. Without the original contract, only the photos have no legal effect unless both parties have no objection. In addition, if you don't sign and seal the contract, it has no legal effect. A contract must be sealed by both parties to have legal effect, and such a contract can be protected by law. It is difficult to claim the validity of the contract because the original can't be provided.

Legal analysis

The photos of the contract have legal effect. From the point of view of evidence, the scanned document is a picture, which exists in the form of a copy and can be tampered with technically. Therefore, the proof function of the scanned document itself is very low. Unless the other party approves the scanned document, it is necessary to provide other relevant evidence to support it, forming a chain of evidence. The scanned document can be used as the final evidence and has high probative effect. A scanned copy is equivalent to a photocopy, and it is difficult to get court support by going to court alone. The original may also be tampered with, but it can be authenticated. If the original is true, it can be used as evidence to identify the facts, while the scanned copy can not be directly identified as evidence even if it is true. This is the difference between the two. In addition, the copy and photos of the contract are consistent with the original contents, and are equivalent to the original contract after confirmation by both parties. For another example, in order to avoid the loss of the original contract, the contract evidence can be notarized, and the copy of the contract attached to the notarized document also has legal effect. Therefore, not only the original contract has legal effect, but also its copy has legal effect under certain conditions.

legal ground

Article 70 of the Civil Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) shall submit the original documentary evidence. Physical evidence shall be submitted in its original form. If it is really difficult to submit the original or the original, copies, photos, duplicates and excerpts may be submitted. Foreign documentary evidence must be accompanied by a Chinese translation.

Article 490 of the Civil Code of People's Republic of China (PRC): If the parties conclude a contract in the form of a contract, the contract is concluded when the parties sign, seal or fingerprint it. Before signing, sealing or fingerprinting, one party has fulfilled its main obligations, and the contract is established when the other party accepts it. A contract shall be concluded in written form as stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or agreed by the parties. If the parties do not do this in writing, but one party has fulfilled its main obligations and the other party accepts it, the contract is established.