Electronic Signature
TierFive eSign is a SharePoint module that enables your users to digitally sign, approve, agree, accept, or audit legally enforceable documents, list items, and records which are securely and centrally located on your SharePoint server. TierFive eSign works seamlessly with all common document formats such as Microsoft® Word, Excel®, Outlook®, InfoPath®, Adobe® PDF, TIFF, and other document types. We use Public Key Infrastructure, to avoid vendor lock-in and allow the document signature to be 3rd party verified without the need for proprietary verification software.
Legality
The Congress of the United States Congress passed the federal ESIGN Act in October 2000; officially setting precedent and thus making electronic signatures the 1:1 legal equivalent to written signatures. The ESIGN Act provisions encompass:
- Allow easy document access and record retention
- Protecting the consumer with appropriate notifications and disclosures
- Ensuring technological neutrality and universal access
- Ensure authentication and privacy
- Create legal certainty and protection to prevent fraud
3rd Party Analysis
Gartner Research: Gartner’s 2007 report titled: “Findings: The Legal Precedent for eSignatures is a Non-Issue” indicates that the effectiveness of an electronic signature is dependent upon depends on good process management, document control and verifiable chain of evidence. You may reference the actual report at www.gartner.com.
The ESIGN Act of 2000