Digital Signature Progress - Congress Sending Around Draft Proposal

June 2, 2000

A legislative seal of approval may finally be in the works for digital signature legislation.

U.S. House and Senate Republicans this week sent around a compromise draft proposal on the issue, InfoWorld Media Group reported. The proposal allows for tweaking the legislation to require companies to continue providing consumers paper notices for a variety of purposes, InfoWorld reported.

Under the compromise -- which gives digital signatures equal legal weight as written ones -- consumers must also agree to receive documents via e-mail.

Laws that place digital signings on the same legal ground as paper have long been key to the paperless home-buying experience.

Digital signatures involve technologies that verify a person's identity, authenticate certain documents and assure safe transmission of contracts over the Internet.

Copyright 2000 Inman News Features


Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org.