E-signatures legal in UK

The Department of Trade and Industry has announced that from today (July 25) an electronic signature is legally admissible in court in the same way as a hand-written signature.

The announcement said: "This legal milestone brings the UK a step closer to its aim of becoming the best place in the world for e-commerce. Electronic signatures are essential if contracts are to be concluded over the internet.

"Businesses and people using the web can now feel more confident knowing that e-signatures will be admissible as evidence in a court of law should a dispute arise."

Under Section 7 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 which comes into force today electronic signatures and any certificate which supports them can be used as evidence in court in much the same way as a hand-written signature. The UK is one of the first countries in the world to pass legislation in this area.

Sections 11 and 12 of the Act also come into force today which 'streamline' procedures for amending telecommunications licences under the 1984 Telecommunications Act. In future licensees who do not respond to proposals made by the Director-General of

Telecommunications will no longer be counted as objecting to them.

A copy of the Act and Explanatory Notes can be obtained from the HMSO website.

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Susie Hughes