This may have the consequences of discouraging e-commerce and, for instance, the use of digital signatures if people can not be sure that secure transactions purported to be entered into by or on behalf of a party will be honoured. Bill 2001 is proposed for that purpose, to remove legal obstacles and introduce default rule standards for the use of online technologies as legitimate business tools. In that respect, it is pervasive and may affect all your commercial and non-commercial dealings. The Bill confirms that an electronic transaction is not invalid merely because it took place wholly or partly by one or more electronic communications. That means the use of electronic technologies will not of itself invalidate your commercial or other dealings.
State laws require certain kinds of documents to be given or kept in writing.
In some cases, signatures are also required. The Bill allows these requirements to be met electronically in certain circumstances. We expect the Bill could prompt many organisations to change the way they perform some of their most basic activities. The Bill sets out principles for determining when and where electronic communications are taken to have been made and received. It also allows parties to separately agree these matters between themselves.