What is the role of digital signatures in e-commerce contracts?

Digital signatures are a vital part of many e-commerce contracts in Washington. The purpose of a digital signature is to provide electronic authentication and assurance that a contract or other online document is genuine and was created or signed by the party claiming to have created or signed it. A digital signature is issued by a Certification Authority (CA), which is an entity that issues digital certificates. These digital certificates authenticate an individual or organization’s identity and are used to assign a digital signature to a document. A digital signature is the electronic equivalent of a signature written in ink, and it has the same legal standing as an inked signature. One of the advantages of digital signatures is that they are difficult to forge, so that businesses can trust that a document was signed by the person it claims to be. Digital signatures also provide users with assurance that a document has not been tampered with in any way since it was signed. When a Washington business uses digital signatures to authenticate important documents, it is important to remember that not all CAs are created equal. Businesses should take the time to research which CAs are reputable and have signed documents that have been accepted in court. In this way, businesses can have greater confidence that their digital signature will be upheld in a legal setting.

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What is the role of digital signatures in e-commerce contracts?

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