# Version control

Source: https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/gestion-des-versions

# Version control

Tracking successive drafts of a contract so the authoritative current version is always identifiable.

## Définition

Version control records every revision of a contract during drafting and negotiation, with timestamps, authorship and change history. It prevents disputes over which text is binding, supports an audit trail and is essential where multiple parties exchange redlines before signature.

## Exemple

> A dispute over a deleted liability cap is settled because version control shows exactly when and by whom the clause was removed.

## Pourquoi c'est un risque pour l'entreprise

Without version control, "which version did we sign?" becomes unanswerable when a dispute arises. Parties negotiate through email with track-changes files named v2, v2-FINAL, v2-FINAL-REVISED, and the signed version is unclear. Discovering after execution that a key clause was removed in an unreviewed draft, or that a manually amended page was never signed, can undermine the entire agreement.

## Comment le gérer

- Assign version numbers systematically from the first draft so each iteration is uniquely identifiable, not by filename alone.
- Record who made each change and when, either in the document metadata or in a separate log.
- Archive every intermediate version, not just the final signed text, so the negotiation history is reconstructable.
- Lock the signed version immediately after execution so it cannot be altered, and store it separately from working drafts.
- When an amendment is signed, link it explicitly to the version of the contract it amends and retain both.

### Comment Contracko aide

Contracko maintains a version history for every contract in the repository, so the full amendment trail is retained alongside the signed document. When a new document is uploaded against an existing contract record, the previous version is preserved rather than overwritten, giving a complete, dated record of how the agreement evolved.

## Pertinent pour

[Services juridiques](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/services-juridiques)[Services informatiques](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/services-informatiques)[Logiciels & SaaS](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/logiciel-saas)[Conseil](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/conseil)

## Clauses associées

- [Entire Agreement Clause](https://contracko.com/fr/bibliotheque-de-clauses/integralite-de-laccord)
- [Change Order (Variations) Clause](https://contracko.com/fr/bibliotheque-de-clauses/ordre-de-modification)
- [Notices Clause](https://contracko.com/fr/bibliotheque-de-clauses/notifications)

## Termes associés

- [Contract automation](https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/automatisation-des-contrats)
- [Contract Management](https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/gestion-des-contrats)
- [Addendum](https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/avenant)
- [Authorised signatory](https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/signataire-autorise)

### Ne manquez plus jamais une échéance de contrat

- L'IA repère les dates de renouvellement et de préavis
- Les risques et obligations sont mis en évidence automatiquement
- Les rappels vous aident à agir avant que les dates ne filent

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Conforme au RGPD. Chiffré. Jamais utilisé pour l'entraînement de l'IA.

## Foire aux questions

Questions courantes sur ce terme.

- **Q:** Does version control only matter during drafting?
  **A:** No. It matters throughout the contract lifecycle. Amendments, addenda and change orders create new versions post-execution, and keeping these linked to the original signed text is just as important as tracking pre-signing drafts.

- **Q:** What is the difference between a version and an amendment?
  **A:** A version is any iteration of the document at any stage; an amendment is a formally executed change to a signed agreement. Amendments create new binding versions; pre-signing drafts are internal working versions.

- **Q:** Can version history be used as evidence in a dispute?
  **A:** Yes. A dated version history showing when a clause was added, changed or deleted can support claims about the parties' intention at the time of signing and can clarify which text is the agreed final version.

- **Q:** How long should version history be retained?
  **A:** At least as long as the contract itself and its post-termination retention period, typically five to seven years from expiry. For contracts with long-tail obligations or statutory requirements, retention may need to be longer.

- **Q:** What is the risk of using email to manage contract versions?
  **A:** Email threads create an implicit version history, but it is fragmented, difficult to search and dependent on individual inboxes. When a team member leaves or an inbox is deleted, the version trail is lost, and reconstructing it from scattered attachments is extremely time-consuming.

## Voyez ces termes dans vos propres contrats

Téléversez un contrat et Contracko en extrait les termes, dates et obligations clés, puis vous rappelle chacun d'eux avant qu'il ne compte.

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