Law Commons^™

The Compliance Case For Information Governance, Peter Sloan

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

In an increasingly convoluted information environment, organizations strive to manage information-related risks and exposures, minimize information-related costs, and maximize information value. The inadequacy of traditional strategies for addressing information compliance, risk, and value is becoming clear, and so too is the need for a better, more holistic approach to governing the organization’s information.

Digital Signature Law Of The United Nations, European Union, United Kingdom And United States: Promotion Of Growth In E-Commerce With Enhanced Security, Stephen E. Blythe

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Digital signatures enhance the ability of contracting parties to authenticate electronic communication. Sophisticated encryption and decryption technology is used to verify the identity of the other party to the electronic transaction. Digital signature law, necessary for adjudication of disputes between parties in e-commerce, is still in its infancy. This article covers basic digital signature law of the United Nations, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The United Nations’ Model Law of Electronic Commerce of 1996 (“MLEC”) had many implications. The MLEC approved the utilization of electronic signatures, stated that electronic signatures would have the same legal …

Technology Law, J. Douglas Cuthbertson, Glen L. Gross

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

Digital Handshakes In Cyberspace Under E-Sign: "There's A New Sheriff In Town!", Michael H. Dessent

University of Richmond Law Review

Without doubt, electronic commerce has increased the efficiency of businesses and consumers seeking to purchase goods, services, or intangibles by placing these objects just a keystroke away. If you already enjoy buying lingerie and foie gras over the Internet, you will love the new Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act ("E-SIGN") Want to borrow $10,000 at four in the morning over the Internet to buy a car? E-SIGN allows it. Or how about entering a "cybersigning chat room," extending a "digital handshake," and then buying that cherished wedding gown? E-SIGN allows this to happen. In this era of …

An Overview Of The Virginia Ucita, Carlyle C. Ring Jr.

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Virginia has taken a strong and important leadership in establishing rules for the Information Highway through the Joint Committee on Technology and Science (JCOTS) and Delegate Joe T. May. Without the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) no established rules exist in common law for the Information Highway, which means that each judge must create the rules in each case as it arises. Every judge will make his own rules for the particular case. This results in great inconsistency and uncertainty adversely affecting the realization of the full potential of the Information Age economy. Governor Gilmore states: In 2000, Virginia …

Remarks On Ucita In Practice: Attorney Views, Carla Stone Witzel

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Well, UCITA has been in effect since October 1, 2000, and I am here today telling you about it in Maryland. Maryland adopted it after Virginia, but [Virginia] has a delayed effective date. The law has been effective, and in fact we are busy fixing it or changing it at this moment in the Maryland legislature. We had the privilege to work for a coalition of software companies lobbying this legislation through the Maryland legislature. We were assisted just a little bit by the Governor and the Speaker of the House. So we've been working with the law probably longer …

Ucita: The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act, Michael J. Lockerby

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

From the heated rhetoric of both proponents and opponents of UCITA, one would think that UCITA represented a radical change from current law. From the standpoint of this practitioner, however, UCITA represents more of an evolutionary than a revolutionary change in the law. In at least three critical areas, the enforceability of "paperless contracts," dispute resolution, and "self-help" remedies, UCITA is arguably consistent with current law or at least the trend of current law. Indeed, the main inconsistency between UCITA and current law is that current law is at times inconsistent. From the standpoint of most businesses, certainty is preferable …

Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Corporate And Business Law, Peter E. Broadbent Jr., John E. Russell

University of Richmond Law Review

Virginia corporate and business law changes in the last year continue to challenge the practitioner to stay abreast of such developments in order to provide accurate advice to clients. This article summarizes the developments in the law in Virginia occurring from June 1999 through May 2000, with the legislative changes described based on Virginia General Assembly action in the 2000 session. Part II examines those legislative changes in corporate and business law (excluding public service corporation/public utility law issues). While many of the legislative changes are not significant, three new uniform laws (revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code …

Annual Survey Of Virginia Law: Technology Law, John S. Jung

University of Richmond Law Review

During the 2000 Session, the General Assembly considered eighty-one technology related bills, forty of which were enacted. This article summarizes the more significant technology bills enacted during this session. One of these bills, House Bill 719,1 enlarged the Joint Commission on Technology and Science ("JCOTS"). The 1997 Virginia General Assembly created JCOTS aas a permanent legislative agency" to "generally study all aspects of technology and science and endeavor to stimulate, encourage, promote, and assist in the development of technology and science in the Commonwealth and sound public policies related thereto." JCOTS, which originally consisted of nine legislators-five delegates and four …

The Digital Signature: Your Identity By The Numbers, W. Everett Lupton

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Electronic commerce is the future of business. Today electronic commerce is a $3.6 billion industry. Thousands of businesses use the Internet to buy and sell their wares. As individuals and businesses increasingly use the Internet for commerce, contracts are moving online too. Because electronic commerce is conducted online, it is infeasible to make contracts through the traditional paper method. An electronic contract can be sent halfway across the world in seconds; whereas the same contract on paper would take days or weeks.