[Federal Register: January 12, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 7)]
[Notices]               
[Page 1852-1853]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ja99-114]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 2957]

 
Advisory Committee on Private International Law (ACPIL), Study 
Group on Electronic Commerce; Meeting Notice

    The Study Group on Electronic Commerce of the Advisory Committee on 
Private International Law (ACPIL) will hold its next meeting from 1:00 
to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27 in Washington, DC. The purpose of 
the meeting will be to review recent proposals for international rules 
on electronic signature and authentication systems to be considered in 
February at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law 
(UNCITRAL).
    UNCITRAL has had before it since May 1997 proposals for rules on 
certain aspects of electronic signature and authentication systems. 
Consensus has been difficult to reach internationally, and the next 
meeting of the Commission is expected to determine whether that is 
feasible at this point in the development of electronic systems 
applications as well as underlying legal and technical rules or 
standards. A recent document prepared by the Secretariat on the basis 
of consultations with States, UN Doc.A/CN.9/WG.IV/WP.80, December 15, 
1998, which contains proposed rules will be considered. Background 
documents and the status of this project are set out in UN Doc.A/CN.9/
WG.IV/WP.78, December 2, 1998.
    The proposed rules cover definitions of electronic and enhanced 
electronic signatures, signature holder and information certifier; 
compliance with requirements for signatures and originals, the 
obligations of signature holders and information certifiers, reliance, 
and other matters. At issue is whether they are a workable approach for 
international rules, which can at the

[[Page 1853]]

same time bridge the gap between countries who have sought rules 
favoring certain existing technologies and those seeking a minimalist 
approach until both market and new technology developments become more 
clear, and thus the effect on commerce and business applications more 
predictable.
    The status of ongoing projects at various international bodies, 
both intergovernmental and private sector, as well as federal and state 
domestic law developments in the United States will be reviewed as 
appropriate. These may include recent developments at the OECD, APEC, 
the ICC and others, and the status of the proposed Uniform Electronic 
Transactions Act (UETA) and Uniform Commercial Code Article 2B, in view 
of the close connection between them in an era of globalization of 
commerce, information, and borderless connections through data 
networks. US proposals for a multilateral convention or bilateral 
agreements incorporating relevant provisions of the 1996 UNCITRAL Model 
Law will also be reviewed.
    Recent UN documents that will be on the table at the Study Group 
meeting are available from the Office of Legal Adviser at the contact 
numbers indicated below, or at the following UN web page addresses: 
http://www.un.or.at/uncitral/english/sessions /wg__ec/wp-80.htm,and wp-
78.htm. For additional background documents on electronic commerce, 
including the 1996 UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce, as well 
as general information on other international law unification projects 
at the Commission, such as international project finance, secured 
interest financing and commercial arbitration, access the UNCITRAL web 
page at www.un.or.at/uncitral/index.html.
    The Advisory Committee meeting will take place at the Department of 
Commerce at 14th and Pennsylvania Ave., NW in the Secretary's 
Conference Room 5855; attendees should use the main entrance on 14th 
Street. The meeting is open to the public up to the capacity of the 
meeting room; persons who cannot attend are welcome to comment, 
including any recommendations for possible U.S. positions on these 
matters. For further information, please contact Mark Bohannon, Chief 
Counsel for Technology at the Department of Commerce, (202) 482-1984, 
fax 482-0253, or Harold Burman, Advisory Committee Executive Director, 
at (202) 776-8421, fax 776-8482. Written comments or requests to be 
added to the ACPIL mailing list on electronic commerce can be sent to 
the Office of Legal Adviser (L/PIL), 2430 ``E'' Street, NW, Suite 355 
South Building, Washington, DC 20037-2800.
Harold S. Burman,
Advisory Committee, Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 99-680 Filed 1-11-99; 8:45 am]
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