Information does not constitute a document

[David Swarbrick]

In message <37BA8851.555576D9@cs.ucl.ac.uk>, Ian Brown
<I.Brown@cs.ucl.ac.uk> writes
>Does this have any effect on the current validity of electronic signatures
>on "documents" or the DTI's proposals?
>
>The Times Law Report, 17 August 1999
>
>...In summary, a document was a material object which contained information
>capable of extraction from it... 
>
>Information of itself could not constitute a document, and the transmission
>of information of itself could not constitute the transmission of a
>document...
>
>http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/99/08/17/timlawcha01001.html?1044816
>

In fact, to give their due (however begrudgingly), the drafters of this
bill anticipated this problem. See 8 (2) (a) where documents are to be
allowed to be stored electronically.

-- 
David Swarbrick, Solicitor, West Yorkshire
Web: http://www.swarb.co.uk/  david@swarb.freeuk.com Tel: +44(0)1484 722531
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