Ecommerce

The creation of e-commerce has brought substantial changes in the U.S. legal system, which was brought about by the Internet. The Uniform Commercial Code to the states, is one such group of laws that focuses on trade but also has the flexibility of to adapt to newer methods of communication, such as the Internet. The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act became part of the federal law in 2000. This act states that a valid signature can include any "electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign a record." In other words, this made e-signatures legit if they were used in contracts. This law however, does not apply to wills nor to death or adoption matters. Copyrights are a focus in the legal system due to being able to distribute digital versions of text, as well as music and movies. Many laws are in place to protect intellectual property, but most do not focus on digital communications. This in turn, makes our legal system work overtime to develop new laws that address e-commerce and digital communication.

International e-business is very different from domestic e-commerce in the legal world. The international market has many more political, financial, and regulatory issues. Because of different languages, currencies, customs, and economies, international e-business can be very risky hence why there are so many laws to monitor it. Electronic signatures, for one, are important in the growth of international e-commerce. Due to different countries adoptions of the policies of e-signatures though could lead to disputes over contracts in international business. Because of this, Congress and the European Union passed the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. This act attempts to provide a standard for electronic signatures and transactions. It is also to make e-signatures