Section 11-1-201. General definitions

   Subject to additional definitions contained in the subsequent articles of this title which are applicable to specific articles or parts thereof, and unless the context otherwise requires, in this title:

   (1) "Action" in the sense of a judicial proceeding includes recoupment, counterclaim, setoff, suit in equity, and any other proceedings in which rights are determined.

   (2) "Aggrieved party" means a party entitled to resort to a remedy.

   (3) "Agreement" means the bargain of the parties in fact as found in their language or by implication from other circumstances including course of dealing or usage of trade or course of performance as provided in this title (Code Sections 11-1-205 and 11-2-208). Whether an agreement has legal consequences is determined by the provisions of this title, if applicable; otherwise by the law of contracts (Code Section 11-1-103).

   (4) "Bank" means any person engaged in the business of banking. Wherever the word "branch" is used in this title, with reference to a bank, it shall mean "branch office" as that term is defined in Code Section 7-1-600.

   (5) "Bearer" means a person in control of a negotiable electronic document of title or a person in possession of an instrument, a negotiable tangible document of title, or a certificated security payable to bearer or indorsed in blank.

   (6) "Bill of lading" means a document of title evidencing the receipt of goods for shipment issued by a person engaged in the business of directly or indirectly transporting or forwarding goods. The term does not include a warehouse receipt.

   (7) "Branch" includes a separately incorporated foreign branch of a bank.

   (8) "Burden of establishing" a fact means the burden of persuading the triers of fact that the existence of the fact is more probable than its nonexistence.

   (9) "Buyer in ordinary course of business" means a person that buys goods in good faith without knowledge that the sale violates the rights of another person in the goods, and in the ordinary course from a person, other than a pawnbroker, in the business of selling goods of that kind. A person buys goods in the ordinary course if the sale to the person comports with the usual or customary practices in the kind of business in which the seller is engaged or with the seller's own usual or customary practices. A person that sells oil, gas, or other minerals at the wellhead or minehead is a person in the business of selling goods of that kind. A buyer in the ordinary course of business may buy for cash, by exchange of other property, or on secured or unsecured credit and may acquire goods or documents of title under a preexisting contract for sale. Only a buyer that takes possession of the goods or has a right to recover the goods from the seller under Article 2 of this title may be a buyer in ordinary course of business. A person that acquires goods in a transfer in bulk or as security for or in total or partial satisfaction of a money debt is not a buyer in ordinary course of business.

   (10) "Conspicuous," with reference to a term, means so written, displayed, or presented that a reasonable person against which it is to operate ought to have noticed it. Whether a term is "conspicuous" or not is a decision for the court. Conspicuous terms include the following:

      (A) A heading in capitals equal to or greater in size than the surrounding text, or in contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same or lesser size; and

      (B) Language in the body of a record or display in larger type than the surrounding text, or in contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks that call attention to the language.

   (11) "Contract" means the total legal obligation which results from the parties' agreement as affected by this title and any other applicable rules of law.

   (12) "Creditor" includes a general creditor, a secured creditor, a lien creditor and any representative of creditors, including an assignee for the benefit of creditors, a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver in equity, and an executor or administrator of an insolvent debtor's or assignor's estate.

   (13) "Defendant" includes a person in the position of defendant in a cross-action or counterclaim.

   (14) "Delivery" with respect to an electronic document of title means voluntary transfer of control and with respect to instruments, tangible documents of title, chattel paper, or certificated securities means voluntary transfer of possession.

   (15) "Document of title" means a record (a) that in the regular course of business or financing is treated as adequately evidencing that the person in possession or control of the record is entitled to receive, control, hold, and dispose of the record and the goods the record covers and (b) that purports to be issued by or addressed to a bailee and to cover goods in the bailee's possession which are either identified or are fungible portions of an identified mass. The term includes a bill of lading, transport document, dock warrant, dock receipt, warehouse receipt, and order for delivery of goods. An electronic document of title means a document of title evidenced by a record consisting of information stored in an electronic medium. A tangible document of title means a document of title evidenced by a record consisting of information that is inscribed on a tangible medium.

   (16) "Fault" means wrongful act, omission, or breach.

   (17) "Fungible" with respect to goods or securities means goods or securities of which any unit is, by nature or usage of trade, the equivalent of any other like unit. Goods which are not fungible shall be deemed fungible for the purposes of this title to the extent that under a particular agreement or document unlike units are treated as equivalents.

   (18) "Genuine" means free of forgery or counterfeiting.

   (19) "Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned.

   (20) "Holder" means:

      (a) The person in possession of a negotiable instrument that is payable either to bearer or to an identified person that is the person in possession;

      (b) The person in possession of a negotiable tangible document of title if the goods are deliverable either to bearer or to the order of the person in possession; or

      (c) The person in control of a negotiable electronic document of title.

   (21) To "honor" is to pay or to accept and pay, or where a credit so engages to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the credit.

   (22) "Insolvency proceedings" includes any assignment for the benefit of creditors or other proceedings intended to liquidate or rehabilitate the estate of the person involved.

   (23) A person is "insolvent" who either has ceased to pay his debts in the ordinary course of business or cannot pay his debts as they become due or is insolvent within the meaning of the federal bankruptcy law.

   (24) "Money" means a medium of exchange authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign government and includes a monetary unit of account established by an intergovernmental organization or by agreement between two or more nations.

   (25) Subject to subsection (27) of this Code section, a person has "notice" of a fact if the person:

      (a) Has actual knowledge of it;

      (b) Has received a notice or notification of it; or

      (c) From all the facts and circumstances known to the person at the time in question, has reason to know that it exists.
   A person "knows" or has "knowledge" of a fact when the person has actual knowledge of it. "Discover" or "learn" or a word or phrase of similar import refers to knowledge rather than to reason to know. The time and circumstances under which a notice or notification may cease to be effective are not determined by this title.

   (26) A person "notifies" or "gives" a notice or notification to another person by taking such steps as may be reasonably required to inform the other person in ordinary course, whether or not the other person actually comes to know of it. Subject to subsection (27) of this Code section, a person "receives" a notice or notification when:

      (a) It comes to that person's attention; or

      (b) It is duly delivered in a form reasonable under the circumstances at the place of business through which the contract was made or at another location held out by that person as the place for receipt of such communications.

   (27) Notice, knowledge, or a notice or notification received by an organization is effective for a particular transaction from the time when it is brought to the attention of the individual conducting that transaction, and in any event, from the time when it would have been brought to the individual's attention if the organization had exercised due diligence. An organization exercises due diligence if it maintains reasonable routines for communicating significant information to the person conducting the transaction and there is reasonable compliance with the routines. Due diligence does not require an individual acting for the organization to communicate information unless such communication is part of the individual's regular duties or the individual has reason to know of the transaction and that the transaction would be materially affected by the information.

   (28) "Organization" includes a corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.

   (29) "Party," as distinct from "third party," means a person who has engaged in a transaction or made an agreement within this title.

   (30) "Person" includes an individual or an organization (see Code Section 11-1-102).

   (31) "Presumption" or "presumed" means that the trier of fact must find the existence of the fact presumed unless and until evidence is introduced which would support a finding of its nonexistence.

   (31.1) "Public sale" means a sale:

      (A) Held at a place reasonably available to persons who might desire to attend and submit bids; and

      (B) At which those attending shall be given the opportunity to bid on a competitive basis; and

      (C) At which the sale, if made, shall be made to the highest and best bidder; and

      (D) Except as otherwise provided in this title for advertising or dispensing with the advertising of public sales, of which notice is given by advertisement once a week for two weeks in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements are published in the county where the sale is to be held, and which notice shall state the day and hour, between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., and the place of sale and shall briefly identify the goods to be sold.

The provisions of this paragraph shall not be in derogation of any additional requirements relating to notice of and conduct of any such public sale as may be contained in other provisions of this title but shall be supplementary thereto.

   (32) "Purchase" includes taking by sale, discount, negotiation, mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, issue or reissue, gift, or any other voluntary transaction creating an interest in property.

   (33) "Purchaser" means a person who takes by purchase.

   (34) "Remedy" means any remedial right to which an aggrieved party is entitled with or without resort to a tribunal.

   (35) "Representative" includes an agent, an officer of a corporation or association, and a trustee, executor or administrator of an estate, or any other person empowered to act for another.

   (36) "Rights" includes remedies.

   (37) "Security interest" means an interest in personal property or fixtures which secures payment or performance of an obligation. The term also includes any interest of a consignor and a buyer of accounts, chattel paper, a payment intangible, or a promissory note in a transaction that is subject to Article 9 of this title. The special property interest of a buyer of goods on identification of those goods to a contract for sale under Code Section 11-2-401 is not a "security interest," but a buyer may also acquire a "security interest" by complying with Article 9 of this title. Except as otherwise provided in Code Section 11-2-505, the right of a seller or lessor of goods under Article 2 or 2A of this title to retain or acquire possession of the goods is not a "security interest," but a seller or lessor may also acquire a "security interest" by complying with Article 9 of this title. The retention or reservation of title by a seller of goods notwithstanding shipment or delivery to the buyer (Code Section 11-2-401) is limited in effect to a reservation of a "security interest."

   Whether a transaction creates a lease or security interest is determined by the facts of each case; however, a transaction creates a security interest if the consideration the lessee is to pay the lessor for the right to possession and use of the goods is an obligation for the term of the lease not subject to termination by the lessee, and

      (a) The original term of the lease is equal to or greater than the remaining economic life of the goods,

      (b) The lessee is bound to renew the lease for the remaining economic life of the goods or is bound to become the owner of the goods,

      (c) The lessee has an option to renew the lease for the remaining economic life of the goods for no additional consideration or nominal additional consideration upon compliance with the lease agreement, or

      (d) The lessee has an option to become the owner of the goods for no additional consideration or nominal additional consideration upon compliance with the lease agreement.

   A transaction does not create a security interest merely because it provides that

      (a) The present value of the consideration the lessee is obligated to pay the lessor for the right to possession and use of the goods is substantially equal to or is greater than the fair market value of the goods at the time the lease is entered into,

      (b) The lessee assumes risk of loss of the goods, or agrees to pay taxes, insurance, filing, recording, or registration fees, or service or maintenance costs with respect to the goods,

      (c) The lessee has an option to renew the lease or to become the owner of the goods,

      (d) The lessee has an option to renew the lease for a fixed rent that is equal to or greater than the reasonably predictable fair market rent for the use of the goods for the term of the renewal at the time the option is to be performed, or

      (e) The lessee has an option to become the owner of the goods for a fixed price that is equal to or greater than the reasonably predictable fair market value of the goods at the time the option is to be performed.

   For purposes of this subsection (37):

      (x) Additional consideration is not nominal if (i) when the option to renew the lease is granted to the lessee the rent is stated to be the fair market rent for the use of the goods for the term of the renewal determined at the time the option is to be performed, or (ii) when the option to become the owner of the goods is granted to the lessee the price is stated to be the fair market value of the goods determined at the time the option is to be performed. Additional consideration is nominal if it is less than the lessee's reasonably predictable cost of performing under the lease agreement if the option is not exercised;

      (y) "Reasonably predictable" and "remaining economic life of the goods" are to be determined with reference to the facts and circumstances at the time the transaction is entered into; and

      (z) "Present value" means the amount as of a date certain of one or more sums payable in the future, discounted to the date certain. The discount is determined by the interest rate specified by the parties if the rate is not manifestly unreasonable at the time the transaction is entered into; otherwise, the discount is determined by a commercially reasonable rate that takes into account the facts and circumstances of each case at the time the transaction was entered into.

   (38) "Send" in connection with a writing, record, or notice means:

      (a) To deposit in the mail or deliver for transmission by any other usual means of communication with postage or cost of transmission provided for and properly addressed and, in the case of an instrument, to an address specified thereon or otherwise agreed, or if there be none to any address reasonable under the circumstances; or

      (b) In any other way to cause to be received any record or notice within the time it would have arrived if properly sent.

   (39) "Signed" includes any symbol executed or adopted by a party with present intention to authenticate a writing.

   (40) "Surety" includes guarantor.

   (41) "Telegram" includes a message transmitted by radio, teletype, cable, any mechanical method of transmission, or the like.

   (42) "Term" means that portion of an agreement which relates to a particular matter.

   (43) "Unauthorized" signature means one made without actual, implied, or apparent authority and includes a forgery.

   (44) "Value": Except as otherwise provided with respect to negotiable instruments and bank collections (Code Sections 11-3-303, 11-4-208, and 11-4-209) a person gives "value" for rights if he acquires them:

      (a) In return for a binding commitment to extend credit or for the extension of immediately available credit whether or not drawn upon and whether or not a charge-back is provided for in the event of difficulties in collection; or

      (b) As security for or in total or partial satisfaction of a preexisting claim; or

      (c) By accepting delivery pursuant to a preexisting contract for purchase; or

      (d) Generally, in return for any consideration sufficient to support a simple contract.

   (45) "Warehouse receipt" means a document of title issued by a person engaged in the business of storing goods for hire.

   (46) "Written" or "writing" includes printing, typewriting, or any other intentional reduction to tangible form.

Code 1933, § 109A-1--201, enacted by Ga. L. 1962, p. 156, § 1; Ga. L. 1963, p. 188, § 1; Ga. L. 1978, p. 1081, §§ 3, 4; Ga. L. 1981, p. 634, § 2; Ga. L. 1985, p. 825, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 11; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2626, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 633, § 3; Ga. L. 1996, p. 1306, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 136, § 11; Ga. L. 2001, p. 362, § 3; Ga. L. 2010, p. 481, § 2-1/HB 451.