Patent ID: 6938157

Claim:
A method to verify authenticity of a document having an electronic signature associated therewith, said document being digitally representable as a file (DF) that is processed with a cryptographic hash function (CHF) to yield a unique digital fingerprint number (DFP) associated with said DF, the method comprising the following steps: (a) creating a document identification number (DID) uniquely associated with said DFP, and associating said DID with said DFP; (b) obtaining and authenticating veracity of credential information (C), and associating said C with said DID and said DFP; and (c) storing, in at least two locations, registration certificate (DFC) that represents said electronic signature and includes said DID, said DFP, and said C, such that a single entity cannot modify every stored copy of said DFC; wherein step (c) includes initially promulgating said DFC to at least a minimum number Q of N, where N>Q, storage locations (WS), and subsequently promulgating said DFP to any remaining (N-Q) said storage locations not initially receiving promulgated said DFC; wherein authenticating whether a putative document digitally representable as a putative file DF′ and by a putative registration certificate (DFC′) associated therewith is an unaltered version of said document represented by said DF and is associated with said electronic signature includes; comparing a putative digital fingerprint DFP′ for said DF′ obtained using said CHF with at least two retrieved copies of said DFP associated with the DFC stored at step (c); wherein if said DFP′ and said DFP are in agreement, said putative document is said document, and said electronic signature has not been altered.