Unterschriftensammlungen

Unterschriften denote marks affixed by a person to indicate agreement, approval, or authorization on a document. Traditionally, a handwritten signature serves as a personal identifier, while electronic forms use digital or electronic signatures to accomplish similar purposes.

Signatures can be categorized as handwritten (wet ink) or electronic. Electronic signatures include simple electronic signatures (SES), which may be a checkbox or a scanned image; advanced electronic signatures (AES) that link uniquely to the signer's identity and enable detection of alterations; and qualified electronic signatures (QES) that meet strict requirements and are often deemed equivalent to a handwritten signature under many legal frameworks, notably the EU eIDAS Regulation.

Legal framework: In the European Union, eIDAS provides a harmonized regime for electronic identification and trust services, with QES offering the strongest legal weight. In the United States, the ESIGN Act and UETA establish the validity of electronic records and signatures. National laws in other jurisdictions may vary in terms of enforceability and required safeguards.

Technical basis (for digital signatures): Digital signatures use public-key cryptography and a certificate from a trusted certificate authority. The signer's private key creates a signature on the document's hash, and others verify it with the public key and certificate, often including timestamps and revocation status.

Practical considerations: For a signature to be legally valid, the signer must intend to sign and have authority to do so; the process should ensure data integrity, consent, and an auditable trail. Notarization or the use of qualified signatures may be required for high-value or regulated documents.