Some Member States requested further discussions on some of the suggested new types of signatures, and emphasized the importance of more detailed descriptions of these signatures.

Concerns:

• Some offices raised the absence of clarification as to the meaning of each type of "signature" and execution method, and requested more detailed explanations and definitions.
  
  • For example, with regard to the concept of "printed signature" and "typed signature", a “printed signature” can be an image of a person’s signature received either in electronic form (inserted as a picture) or placed on documents using printing plates that reproduce the person’s handwritten signature, while a “typed signature” can be a signature entered from a keyboard. 
• An office requested explanations on how to determine whether a signature is authentic or not.
• An office raised the danger of new types of signature being exploited by third parties.

Views of the International Bureau:

The requirement of "a handwritten ink signature" for paper documents has been implemented since the PCT system began to operate, and the meaning of "a handwritten ink signature" appears to be have been clear to all parties concerned.  Definitions of new types of signatures should ideally be understood and executed in the same way by all parties concerned.  Thus, the International Bureau considers that it would be optimal to reach a shared understanding, namely, one clear definition of each type of signatures which will be applied by any Offices and Authorities during all the International Phases of the PCT procedure as a formality requirement.

Offices and NGOs are welcome to provide comments on this page, and encouraged to contribute, in particular, by providing answers to the following questions: 

-Does your national law contain any definition of "printed", "typed" and "stamped" signatures?

-How would you propose to further define the meaning of "printed", "typed" and "stamped" signatures?