Abstract:
The recently adopted United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts is a landmark legal instrument that sets a new global standard for electronic commerce legislation. In Part I, the article discusses the key features of this landmark Convention, and the significance of the Convention which extends beyond the strict ambit of the Convention itself. In Part II, the article broadly compares the Convention provisions with those of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce and the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures, and highlights some provisions from the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce that were omitted from the Convention. In Part III, the article discusses legal issues that are raised by the implementation of the Convention in Singapore, focusing on the necessary amendments to the Electronic Transactions Act (Cap 283A, 1996 Rev Ed). [Editorial note: For a brief overview of the Convention, refer to the note at p 234 of this issue of the Academy Journal.]