E-Commerce and the Law of Digital Signatures

by Center for International Legal Studies, Salzburg

• ISBN13: 9780379215151
• ISBN10: 0379215152
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-06-21
• Publisher: Oceana TM

Summary

In the past six years, more than 55 countries have begun adopting UNCITRAL's (United National Commission on International Trade Law) Model Laws of 1999 and 2001 regarding the use and validity of e-signatures. Dozens of pieces of legislation and legislative proposals now exist around the world on the subject of e-signatures. While the model laws may look the same on paper, in practice they can vary widely. Finally, you can be certain that your clients are in compliance when using digital signatures. The Center for International Legal Studies, in cooperation with UNCITRAL, has gathered experts in over 25 jurisdictions to analyze the impact of these standards in their respective domestic e-commerce regimes. These experts show how the Model Laws are actually implemented today in each of these countries. Now you can have on-the-ground feedback about how UNCITRAL's Uniform Rules on Electronic Signatures, the Model Law on Electronic Commerce 1996, and the Model Law on Electronic Signatures 2001 are being implemented. A must have reference for: · Any lawyer working on a business transaction or contract using the Internet to exchange forms · Government Lawyers · Intellectual Property Lawyers Topics covered include: · Application and enforceability of electronic transactions · Defining key terms, including 'writing,' 'signature,' and 'original' documents · Legal recognition of data messages · Formation of contracts · Attribution of data messages · Retention of data messages · Trustworthiness of e-signature · Electronic Commerce Analyzes the global impact of: · UNCITRAL's Uniform Rules on Electronic Signatures · Model Law on Electronic Commerce 1996 · Model Law on Electronic Signatures 2001

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Introduction	ix
Authors	xv
Argentina	1	(24)
Electronic Commerce	1	(20)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	21	(4)
Australia	25	(62)
Electronic Commerce	25	(61)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	86	(1)
Austria	87	(42)
Introduction	87	(1)
Model Law on Electronic Commerce	88	(41)
Brazil	129	(22)
Electronic Commerce	129	(18)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	147	(4)
Canada	151	(24)
Electronic Commerce	151	(20)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	171	(4)
Chile	175	(14)
Electronic Commerce	175	(11)
Communication of Data Messages	186	(1)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	187	(2)
Czech Republic	189	(14)
Introduction	189	(1)
E-Commerce	190	(2)
Application of Legal Requirements to Data Messages	192	(7)
Communication of Data Messages	199	(4)
France	203	(18)
Electronic Commerce	203	(15)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	218	(3)
Germany	221	(48)
Introduction	221	(43)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	264	(5)
Hungary	269	(20)
Introduction	269	(1)
Electronic Commerce in General---The Civil Code	270	(1)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Terms---The E-Commerce Act	271	(5)
Distance Contracts	276	(4)
Electronic Signatures	280	(4)
Implementation of E-Commerce	284	(5)
India	289	(40)
Introduction	289	(1)
The 1996 Model Law and the 2000 Act	290	(8)
Application of Legal Requirements to Data Messages	298	(17)
Communication of Data Messages	315	(10)
Electronic Commerce in Relation to Carriage of Goods	325	(2)
Conclusion	327	(2)
Indonesia	329	(32)
Introduction	329	(2)
Electronic Commerce	331	(25)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	356	(5)
Israel	361	(40)
Introduction	361	(2)
Electronic Commerce	363	(30)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	393	(6)
Conclusion	399	(2)
Japan	401	(26)
Introduction	401	(2)
Application of Legal Requirement to Data Messages	403	(11)
Communication of Data Messages	414	(7)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	421	(6)
Malaysia	427	(22)
Introduction	427	(1)
Malaysian Laws and the Model Law on Electronic Commerce of 1996	427	(12)
Malaysia's Legal Regime and the Model Law on Electronic Signatures of 2001	439	(8)
Draft Convention on Contracts Concluded or Evidenced by Data Messages	447	(1)
Conclusion	448	(1)
Mexico	449	(32)
Introduction	449	(2)
Electronic Commerce	451	(27)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	478	(3)
Norway	481	(26)
Electronic Commerce	481	(23)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	504	(3)
Poland	507	(36)
E-Commerce	507	(33)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	540	(3)
Singapore	543	(16)
Electronic Commerce	543	(13)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	556	(1)
Review of the Electronic Transactions Act	556	(3)
South Africa	559	(20)
Introduction	559	(2)
Electronic Commerce	561	(2)
Application of Legal Requirements to Data Messages	563	(9)
Communication of Data Messages	572	(2)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	574	(5)
Spain	579	(28)
Electronic Commerce	579	(22)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	601	(6)
Sweden	607	(12)
Electronic Commerce	607	(9)
Electronic Commerce in Specific Areas	616	(3)
Taiwan	619	(18)
Introduction	619	(1)
E-Commerce	620	(4)
Application of Legal Requirements to Electronic Records	624	(5)
Application of Legal Requirements to Electronic Signatures	629	(5)
Conclusion	634	(3)
United Kingdom	637	(58)
Electronic Commerce	637	(46)
Specific Aspects of Electronic Commerce	683	(12)
United States	695	(38)
Introduction	695	(3)
Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or E-SIGN: Which Applies?	698	(3)
Uniform Electronic Transactions Act	701	(4)
Application of Legal Requirements to Data Messages	705	(6)
Communication of Data Messages	711	(5)
Miscellaneous Provisions of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act	716	(1)
E-SIGN	717	(2)
Definitions	719	(1)
Application of Legal Requirements to Data Messages	720	(6)
Communication of Data Messages	726	(1)
Miscellaneous Provisions of E-SIGN	727	(3)
Conclusion	730	(3)
European Union	733	(30)
Electronic Commerce	733	(22)
Specific Aspects of Electronic Commerce	755	(8)
Appendix I 1996 Model Law on Electronic Commerce	763	(68)
Appendix II 2001 Model Law on Electronic Signatures	831	(76)
Appendix III Draft Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts	907