!!! Overview
[{$pagename}]  ([e-signature]), refers to [data] in electronic form, which is logically associated with other [data] in electronic form and which is used by the signatory to sign.


[{$pagename}] type of signature provides the same [legal] standing as a handwritten signature as long as it adheres to the requirements of the specific regulation it was created under (e.g., [eIDAS] in the [European Union], [NIST-DSS] in the USA or [ZertES] in Switzerland).

[{$pagename}] are a [legal] concept distinct from [Digital Signatures]. Although [Digital Signatures] are often used to implement [{$pagename}]. 

[{$pagename}] can be as simple as a name entered in an electronic document, digital signatures are increasingly used in e-commerce and in regulatory filings to implement electronic signatures in a cryptographically protected way. Standardization agencies like NIST or ETSI provide standards for their implementation (e.g., NIST-DSS, XAdES or PAdES).[4][6] The concept itself is not new, with common law [jurisdictions] having recognized telegraph signatures as far back as the mid-19th century and faxed signatures since the [1980s].

Some other [{$pagename}] Guidance
* [OpenSignature]
* [Government Paperwork Elimination Act] ([GPEA]) a [United States Federal Law] enacted in [1998|Year 1988] that is applicable to governmental transactions and other transactions involving certain federal organizations;
* [Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act] ([E-SIGN]) a [United States Federal Law] enacted in [2000|Year 2000] that largely preempts inconsistent [US State] [law] and that is applicable to commercial, consumer, or business transactions involving federal organizations;
* [Uniform Electronic Transactions Act] ([UETA]) a uniform [US State] [law] that was finalized by the [National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws] ([NCCUSL]) in [1999|Year 1999] and subsequently adopted by 47 [US State]

!! [Qualified Electronic Signature]
A [Qualified Electronic Signature] ([QES]) is an [{$pagename}] that is compliant to [European Union] [Regulation] No 910/2014 ([eIDAS] Regulation) for electronic transactions within the internal [European Union] market].

!! More Information
There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:
[{ReferringPagesPlugin before='*' after='\n' }]
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* [#1] - [Electronic_signature|Wikipedia:Electronic_signature|target='_blank'] - based on information obtained 2017-08-02
* [#2] - [Qualified Electronic Signature|Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_electronic_signature|target='_blank'] - based on information obtained 2021-06-17 
* [#3] - [OpenSignature|https://cloudsignatureconsortium.org/|target='_blank'] - based on information obtained 2021-09-21