The two most important pieces of legislation in the US are E-Sign, which became law nationally in the summer of 2000, and UETA, a related uniform state law passed in 38 states. Links are provided to both, including links to negative comments by consumer organizations over the impacts. UETA in particular has been criticized as lacking in consumer protections. Also included is information about the international status, in particular with our largest trading partners, Canada and the EU.
Millennium Digital Commerce Act (from Tech Law Journal)
21 CFR 11 (Implementing Regs)
Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR Part 11) Electronic Records; Electronic Signatures
UETA Home Page
Uniform Electronic Transactions Act Home Page
Information about:
What's New
What is Happening With UETA in the US
What Happened With UETA in Congress (Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act)
FTC/NTIA Workshop on Consumer Preventions in E-Sign
Legal Articles and Commentary
Drafting UETA (The NCCUSL Public Drafting Process 1997-1999 The ETA Forum)
UETA State-By-State Comparison Table (As of July 18, 2001 37 States Have Enacted UETA)
Standards for Security and Electronic Signatures
National Archives and Records Administration; Records Management Guidance for Agencies Implementing Electronic Signature Technologies
Office of Management and Budget Guidance on Implementing the Electronic Signatures in Global and
National Commerce Act; Memorandum For the Heads of Departments and Agencies; Written by: Jacob
J. Lew
Electronic Signature Legislation
How the New E-Sign Act Will Affect E-Commerce; By: Alston and Bird, LLP
Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-Sign) Materials: E-Sign Act; Electronic
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000: Effect on State Laws; Multi-State Digital
Signatures Summit Summary; and Digital Signatures and E-Sign: Implications for PKIs
E-Commerce Provisions in the UCITA and UETA; By: Cem Kaner
Statements Or Positions From Other Organizations
Letter from the President of Health Care Financing Administration commenting on the Department of Health
and Human Services proposed rule on "Security and Electronic Signature Standards" (HCFA-0046-P)
E-Sign and UETA: from the National Consumer Law Center
Center) and Gail Hillebrand (Consumers Union)
Comparison of Federal E-Signature Act and UETA on Key Consumer Provision
National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws; Consumers and the New Uniform Electronic Transactions Act: States Need Law to Ensure Level Playing Field for E-Commerce
From Other Countries
Electronic Signature Directive; Directive 1999/93/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13
December 1999 on a Community Framework for Electronic Signatures
The European Electronic Signature Standardization Initiative
Uniform Law Conference of Canada
Uniform Electronic Commerce Act:
- Part 1 - Provision and Retention of Information
- Part 2 - Communication of Electronic Documents
- Part 3 - Carriage of Goods
Useful Articles in Various Mainstream Or Industry Media
Legalizing Ink: The New Electronic Signature Law; By: Alexis D. Gutzman; July 20, 2000
Only Available if You Have a Subscription to the New York Times Website
The Industry Standard Magazine; The Word on E-Sign; By: Ronna Abraham; June 30, 2000
Digital Signature Bill Enables E-Commerce
By Jennifer Jones and Margret Johnston; June 16, 2000
Sign of Trouble: The Problem With Electronic Signatures; By: Jesse Berst, Editorial Director, ZDNet
Anchor Desk; July 17, 2000
The Foundation for Information Technology Education is grateful to Charles Oriez, a member of the Mile-High (Denver) Chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals, for his invaluable assistance in developing this page.
Copyright 2002, The Foundation for Information Technology Education