Electronic Signatures for B2B Contracts

The last few centuries have seen paper-based documents and manuscript signatures dominate the way businesses enter into a contractual relationship with each other. With the advent of Internet, replacing paper-based contracts with B2B electronic contracts is a possibility. However, an appropriate technology and an enabling legislation are crucial for this change to happen. On the technology front this feature has the potential to enable business executives to sit in front of their computer and sign multi-million dollar deals by using their electronic signatures. On the legal front various pieces of legislation have been enacted and policies developed at both national and international levels to give legal recognition to such type of contracts. This book presents the findings of an empirical study on large public listed Australian companies that examined businesses' perception towards the use of electronic signatures in B2B contracts. Essentially, it identifies six key factors that create a disincentive to businesses to move from the practice of paper- based signatures to the new technology of electronic signatures. This book offers legal practitioners, academics and businesses insights into issues associated with the use of electronic signatures and suggests a number of measures to promote its usage in B2B contracts.

Aashish Srivastava is a lecturer in the Department of Business Law and Taxation, Monash University, Australia where he teaches undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in business law. He received his PhD in law at Monash University in 2009. He also has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science from Banaras Hindu University, India. He is the author and co-author of over 30 publications. His articles have been published in peer reviewed journals of national and international repute. He has contributed chapters in contributed volumes and encyclopaedia. He has presented his papers at national and international conferences. He is the recipient of the Australian Law Teachers Association Conference 2009 - Highly Commended Best Early Career Academic Conference paper. He was an invited speaker at World Jurist Association's 24th Biennial Congress on the Law of the World 2011. Aashish Srivastava is on the editorial board of Business and Management Research journal besides being a reviewer for various other journals. He has received the Dean's Award for Teaching Achievement and Contribution to Student Learning 2010 and the Department of Business Law and Taxation Teaching Award for Excellence and Innovation 2009. He is member of the Australian Law Teachers Association.