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ARTICLE · 22 AUGUST 2016

Why are we hesitating to adopt e-contracts?

Bryks Lawyers
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Most contract negotiation is done online, by email or over the phone but contracts are then printed and signed by hand.

AustraliaCorporate/Commercial Law
Dorota Bryks
Dorota Bryks
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The Electronic Transactions Acts

The majority of contract negotiation is done online, by email or over the phone but it still remains the norm to print contracts out and sign them by hand. The Electronic Transactions Acts have been around for over 15 years but electronic contracts are still not commonly utilised by businesses. If we have the technological capability to exchange and complete contracts entirely electronically then why are businesses so slow to make shift towards paperless contracts, and is it justified?

What are the Electronic Transactions Acts?

Each Australian state and territory has substantially similar electronic transactions legislation that generally mirrors the Commonwealth Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (together the 'Acts'). Collectively, the Acts:

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