Digital Handshakes in Cyberspace Under E-Sign: "There's a New Sheriff in Town!"

Without doubt, electronic commerce has increased the efficiency of businesses and consumers seeking to purchase goods, services, or intangibles by placing these objects just a keystroke away. If you already enjoy buying lingerie and foie gras over the Internet, you will love the new Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act ("E-SIGN") Want to borrow $10,000 at four in the morning over the Internet to buy a car? E-SIGN allows it. Or how about entering a "cybersigning chat room," extending a "digital handshake," and then buying that cherished wedding gown?

E-SIGN allows this to happen. In this era of ever-prevalent e-commerce, juxtaposed with increasingly effective computer hacker schemes, lawyers will now be asked to represent those transacting business under the new E-SIGN. Are you ready for it?