It’s Christmas come early in Virginia this year. As of July 1, 2024, attorneys in Virginia can officially (and permanently!) use electronic signatures to sign pleadings in Virginia’s state courts. It only took twenty-plus...more
Mietverträge einfach, schnell und rechtssicher elektronisch abschließen? Bislang eine eher seltene Ausnahme. Wir stellen die gesetzlich vorgesehenen Möglichkeiten vor – sowohl für den Abschluss von Mietverträgen als auch für...more
Given the ever-changing landscape and increasing popularity of remote work, the use of electronic signatures (“e-signatures”) is on the rise. Business in general is going virtual, causing electronic transactions and online...more
How many times a day on average do you think you sign something? Do you sign your full name, your initials, a version of your name, an “X” or some other identifier? Do you “wet sign” with a pen? Do you use an “s” signature,...more
Thank you for reading the October 2023 issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to Market® newsletter. This month, we discuss the Federal Circuit’s recent case considering the scope of the USPTO’s authority to cancel registrations...more
A few weeks ago, a Canadian farmer sent a text message to a company he worked with that included a thumbs-up emoji, which symbolizes approval or agreement. To his surprise, the Canadian court treated this emoji as the...more
Judge Frederick E. Clement of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California recently held that affidavits with a computer-generated signature are insufficient and hold no evidentiary value pursuant...more
On January 19, 2023, the California Court of Appeal, First District, Division 4, issued a troubling decision regarding the evidentiary value of electronic signatures in Iyere v. Wise Auto Group. First, a caveat. The...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to extend certain COVID-19-related flexibilities through Jan. 24, 2023. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR EMPLOYERS AND FOREIGN NATIONALS - Under this policy, petitioners...more
As far as one can remember, Japanese agreements have always used seal impressions to give additional weight to signatures and add hurdles to forgery. At least that was how the practice of seal is believed to have begun...more
As we continue to assist Advisors during examinations conducted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have noticed questions related to the Advisors’ use of electronic signatures....more
Electronic signatures or e-signatures are an increasingly essential tool in today’s technology-dependent workplace, especially for employers that are hiring remote workers. While state and federal law generally...more
The US Internal Revenue Service has extended its temporary approval of accepting electronic or digital signatures on certain IRS forms until October 31, 2023, and has expanded the list of forms that may be signed...more
The US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) eliminated the requirement for original handwritten signatures on certain correspondence with the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) and on certain payments made to the PTO by...more
Following Sullivan’s recognition as a Leader in Trade for Innovation by Global Trade Review (GTR) for recent contributions to the digitalisation of trade finance, this is an opportune moment to recap the progress that has...more
Digital technologies are paving the way for more convenient and efficient transactions. Paper documents and wet-ink signatures are being replaced by their electronic equivalents, and “in-person” appearances can now be...more
Even before Covid-19, electronic signatures (e-signatures for short) were revolutionizing the way agreements were being executed and stored. Covid-19 has not only accelerated this trend, but also highlighted the importance of...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission has signed off on new rules for e-signatures. Our Securities Group examines the new authentication procedures and outlines how to start using an electronic signature process....more
On 17 November 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced it had adopted new rules and rule amendments to permit the use of electronic signatures for executing documents filed with the SEC through its...more
Remote executions of estate planning documents are again allowed in Michigan through December 31, 2020. On November 5, 2020, Michigan’s Governor signed 2020 PA 246, allowing remote witnessing, and 2020 PA 249, allowing...more
On Nov. 3, 2020, the North Carolina Court of Appeals issued opinion in a case entitled Mitchell v Boswell with a rather unremarkable holding that a mediated settlement agreement reached in a Superior Court ordered mediation...more
Electronic signatures have soared in popularity as a result of social distancing measures related to COVID-19. While such signatures are generally accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Wilson...more
Given the increase in virtual working environments due to COVID-19, many lenders are exploring electronic notarization, remote online notarization (RON), and even electronic signatures. While the pandemic may have spurred...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift away from ink-and-paper and toward electronic signatures and records. Such electronic options offer not only convenience, but also safety (in the form of social distancing) and...more
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry jointly issued FAQs (the FAQs) regarding the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification...more