[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 30550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14855]



[[Page 30550]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 2929]


Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Private International 
Law (ACPIL) Study Group on Electronic Commerce Meeting Notice and 
Request for Public Comments

    The Department of State's Advisory Committee Study Group on 
Electronic Commerce will hold a meeting Friday, June 19 in Washington, 
D.C. from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The meeting will review international 
and national developments concerning computer-based authentication, 
signature and message integrity systems, and consider possible 
approaches to international rules and related domestic concerns.
    The discussion will include developments at the United Nations 
Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL); the OECD; proposed 
new uniform state laws in the U.S., including Uniform Commercial Code 
Article 2B and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; and other state 
and federal laws and regulations proposed or adopted. The Advisory 
Committee will also consider developments at the European Commission, 
the Science and Technology, Business, and International Law Sections of 
the American Bar Association, the National Conference of Commissioners 
on Uniform State Laws, the American Law Institute, and other 
organizations as appropriate.
    In particular, two documents will be reviewed which will then be 
considered by UNCITRAL at the next meeting of its Working Group on 
Electronic Commerce in July 1998. These include (1) the recently 
revised ``Draft Uniform Rules on Electronic Signatures'' issued by the 
Secretariat, and (2) a proposal by the United States on a ``Draft 
International Convention on Electronic Transactions'' (U.N. Docs.A/
CN.9/WG.IV/WP.76 and 77, dated 25 May, 1998).
    Issues that may be reviewed by the Advisory Committee may include, 
but are not limited to, prior U.S. views urging international bodies to 
examine the various electronic authentication systems now available or 
emerging, to allow both technological and market developments to form 
the basis of any rules, in order to avoid unnecessary impediments to 
electronic commerce. Included will be a consideration of rules which 
can encompass both unregulated private sector systems, as well as 
governmentally regulated or licensed systems; whether rules for 
authentication or signature systems should distinguish between 
commercial and consumer transactions; possible rules on risk 
allocation, attribution and reliance; whether third party assurance 
providers, such as certifying authorities, should have to meet minimum 
levels of assurance; what role information security standards should 
play in this process; whether rules are needed on incorporation by 
reference; what types of rules for cross-certification between 
different countries are feasible; and other related issues. 
Jurisdictional issues will also be discussed as appropriate.
    Participants may also wish to review the recently completed 
UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce, which covers the legal 
effect and validity of computer messages in commercial transactions; 
functional equivalents of signatures, writings, etc.; attribution of 
messages; time and place where communications are deemed to have taken 
place; electronic bills of lading; and other matters.
    The meeting is open to the public up to the capacity of the meeting 
room, and members of the public may participate subject to rulings of 
the Chair. The meeting will be held in Washington at the International 
Law Institute (ILI), at 1615 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Participants 
should register in advance since space may be limited. Please advise 
either the Office of Legal Adviser (L/PIL) at the State Department by 
calling Rosie Gonzales at (202) 776-8420, by fax at 776-8482, or by 
email to: [email protected]., or call Stuart Kerr, ILI Executive Director, 
at (202) 483-3036, or by fax at 483-3029.
    Participants will receive the above-referenced documents by 
providing Ms. Gonzales with their email address, or alternatively by 
requesting paper copies. The office mailing address is: Office of the 
Legal Adviser (L/PIL), Suite 355, South Building, 2430 E Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20037-2800. Members of the public who cannot attend are 
welcome to request the documents and to comment on this topic.
Harold S. Burman,
Executive Director, Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Private 
International Law.
[FR Doc. 98-14855 Filed 6-3-98; 8:45 am]
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