Some of the other info in the AP article seems to be coinciding with discussions on the list, so heres a less condensed version of the article. Are we still within the limits of the copyrights? God i hope so. :) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- TAMPA - Flroida now recognizes electronic signatures as legal and binding, however, working out the logistics to implement the new law may take some doing. Andrew Greenberg, an associate at a large Tampa law firm...says, the process saves time by using a computer to handle notary duties that used to be done by hand. he expects the mechanics of electronic certifaction to become simple enough for everybody to use. "It will be like the telephone - anybody can use it without thinking or knowing how it works," he said. Ted Barassi, chairman of the United States Council for International Business, is among a pool of experts Florida Secretary of State Sandra Mortham is expected to call on to set up the state's emerging electronic signature certifacation process. The law does not specify how an electronic document must be signed, but Barassi and others say it probably will mean coding the text and typed signature so they cannot be changed by anyone other than the writer. No on knows yet just how this will be done, but Mortham's own expert on the subject, Gene McGee, envisions a central database that tracks coded computer signatures for individuals and businesses. With Florida already a hub of Latin American trade, cybernotary lawyers could make the state a mecca for international trade, McGee predicts. _______________________________________________________________________ Its kind of scary when the best minds the state could find are so obviously without a clue. One of you politically involved folx could dig up addresses for some of our mis-representatives and forward them discussion from this list, maybe. :) Adios..