96-23211. Advisory Committee on Private International Law; Meeting of Study Group on Electronic Commerce

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47999-48000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23211]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 2440]


Advisory Committee on Private International Law; Meeting of Study 
Group on Electronic Commerce

    The Study Group on Electronic Commerce will hold its next meeting 
from 3:00-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18 in Dallas, Texas. The 
purpose of the meeting will be to review legal issues and possible 
standards or guidelines concerning the establishment of electronic 
registries to facilitate the recording of interests in moveable 
commercial property involved in international transactions.
    The need for this review arises from the work on draft multilateral 
treaties involving international commercial finance at two 
international organizations, the United Nations commission on 
International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the International Institute for 
the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT). The United States is 
actively participating in both projects. Preliminary decisions may now 
need to be taken in both organizations whether to base their respective 
treaties on registry systems, which will involve issues similar to 
those dealt with under the Uniform Commercial Code, as well as registry 
systems involving vessels, certain commodities, etc. In addition, both 
organizations will need to consider whether such registries would be 
computer-based, and in what manner systems and standards in different 
countries can be harmonized for purposes of transactions covered by 
each respective treaty. The establishment of one or more 
internationally-based registry systems will also need to be considered, 
which could serve to establish or monitor standards, provide 
coordination and linkage with nationally-based systems, or provide 
direct registry services.
    In addition, documents are available on the two multilateral 
commercial law treaty projects from the office designated below; the 
UNCITRAL project involves international rules for assignment of 
accounts receivable; the

[[Page 48000]]

UNIDROIT project involves rules for international secured interests for 
mobile equipment.
    Requesters may also be interested in the recently completed 
UNCITRAL rules on electronic commerce, which cover 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, and 
other matters.
    The meeting of the Advisory Committee Study Group is open to the 
public up to the capacity of the meeting room. Members of the public 
who cannot attend are welcome to comment on the referenced documents, 
including any recommendations for possible U.S. positions on these 
matters. The meeting will take place at the Southern Methodist 
University School of Law, 3315 Daniels Avenue, Dallas, Texas in the 
Thomas Seminar Room at Storey Hall. Persons who expect to attend should 
advise either the Office of the Legal Adviser (L/PIL), Suite 357 South 
Building, 2430 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037-2800, fax (202) 776-
8482 or Professor Peter Winship at SMU at [phone] or by fax 
[phone]. Documents can be requested from the Office of the Legal 
Adviser; for further information please contact Harold S. Burman of 
that office or Professor Winship.
Harold S. Burman,
Advisory Committee, Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 96-23211 Filed 9-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-10-M