According to Article 14 of People's Republic of China (PRC) Electronic Signature Law, a reliable electronic signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature or seal. Commercial documents and other data messages with reliable electronic signatures will have the same legal effect as paper commercial documents. But if it is an unreliable electronic signature, the legal effect in the future will not be exactly the same.
Article 1 This Law is formulated in order to standardize electronic signatures, establish the legal effect of electronic signatures and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the parties concerned.
Article 2 The term "electronic signature" as mentioned in this Law refers to the data contained in a data message to identify the identity of the signer and show that the signer approves its contents.
The term "data message" as mentioned in this Law refers to information generated, sent, received or stored by electronic, optical, magnetic or similar means.
Article 3 In civil activities, the parties may agree on the use or non-use of electronic signatures and data messages in contracts or other documents and documents.
A document in the form of electronic signature or data message agreed by the parties shall not be denied its legal effect just because it is in the form of electronic signature or data message.