A cornerstone of United States contract law is the general use of the Statute of Frauds to legally binding agreements. Emerging types of electronic commerce and new types of legally binding relationships have begun challenge the very idea of defining the four corners of an agreement. Numerous obstacles concerning authoritative relationships arise with the proliferation of electronic commerce, most eminently determining what constitutes a legitimate signature. Customarily, the Statute of Frauds is a collective term describing different statutory arrangements that deny enforcement of certain types of agreements unless they are reduced to composing and signed by the gathering to be charged. The problem with this conventional idea of the Statute of Frauds is the manner by which it relates to electronic commerce in determining whether the gathering being charged with the agreement has really signed the agreement for purposes of enforcement.

Different types of legislation dealing with internet law have attempted to define and describe digital and electronic signatures for purposes of determining enforceability. Generally, there are two general categories of signatures when dealing with electronic agreements.

Digital Signatures

Unlike electronic signatures, digital signatures are more often than not used as a means of demonstrating affirmative intent chu ky so fpt. The problems with digital signatures do not stem from inadvertent agreement to terms, but instead from the security and confidentiality of the digital signatures. Generally speaking, digital signatures are encrypted electronic signatures that an outsider (often referred to as the certification authority) authenticates as genuine. Unlike the more general electronic signature, a digital signature must be unique and carefully under the sole guardianship of the gathering utilizing it. Unlike electronic signatures, where a typed name, an organization name or even a logo would all be able to tie the gathering to be charged by its mere presence, digital signatures offer the agreeing party greater levels of security and efficiency. The general types of signatures would not be enforceable as a digital signature. Because of the authentication requirements of a digital signature, it ought to be recommended that clients rely on the use of digital signatures for any prominent or high obligation electronic agreement.

Digital signature use will just increase being used in the future, as parties to all exchanges will seek a heightened level of data security without the fear of accidentally agreeing to unfavorable terms. While there is an inherent fear of paperless exchanges, especially with more customary attorneys and companies, the use of digital signatures makes commerce faster, more secure and more effective and ought to be recommended to clients when appropriate. The use of digital signatures is even more effective when dealing in international trade, making it no longer necessary to fly overseas so as to demonstrate intent to sign an agreement.