§ 7031. — Principles governing the use of electronic signatures in international transactions.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC7031]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 96--ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES IN GLOBAL AND NATIONAL COMMERCE
SUBCHAPTER III--PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
Sec. 7031. Principles governing the use of electronic signatures
in international transactions
(a) Promotion of electronic signatures
(1) Required actions
The Secretary of Commerce shall promote the acceptance and use,
on an international basis, of electronic signatures in accordance
with the principles specified in paragraph (2) and in a manner
consistent with section 7001 of this title. The Secretary of
Commerce shall take all actions necessary in a manner consistent
with such principles to eliminate or reduce, to the maximum extent
possible, the impediments to commerce in electronic signatures, for
the purpose of facilitating the development of interstate and
foreign commerce.
(2) Principles
The principles specified in this paragraph are the following:
(A) Remove paper-based obstacles to electronic transactions
by adopting relevant principles from the Model Law on Electronic
Commerce adopted in 1996 by the United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law.
(B) Permit parties to a transaction to determine the
appropriate authentication technologies and implementation
models for their transactions, with assurance that those
technologies and implementation models will be recognized and
enforced.
(C) Permit parties to a transaction to have the opportunity
to prove in court or other proceedings that their authentication
approaches and their transactions are valid.
(D) Take a nondiscriminatory approach to electronic
signatures and authentication methods from other jurisdictions.
(b) Consultation
In conducting the activities required by this section, the Secretary
shall consult with users and providers of electronic signature products
and services and other interested persons.
(c) Definitions
As used in this section, the terms ``electronic record'' and
``electronic signature'' have the same meanings provided in section 7006
of this title.
(Pub. L. 106-229, title III, Sec. 301, June 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 475.)
