# Good solution to sending a .pdf back to someone after signing it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-solution-to-sending-a-pdf-back-to-someone-after-signing-it/489670 "2009-03-16T21:39:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-solution-to-sending-a-pdf-back-to-someone-after-signing-it/489670/21 "2011-03-10T15:32:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Just to clarify some terminology … > > In the law, “electronic signature” means some magic with encryption & public keys to validate the identity of someone who handled a document. What law? Which jurisdiction? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-solution-to-sending-a-pdf-back-to-someone-after-signing-it/489670/22 "2011-04-24T03:12:39Z")
Here’s another one, I haven’t tried it yet though. > **[Electronic signature - Custom eSignature workflows | signNow](https://www.signnow.com/)** > > Sign documents with airSlate SignNow’s legally-binding eSignature trusted by millions. Enjoy a seamless online signature experience anytime, anywhere, on any device. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-solution-to-sending-a-pdf-back-to-someone-after-signing-it/489670/23 "2011-04-24T04:23:53Z")
Every serious legal document I have ever signed required either my being there in person or providing a Medallion Signature Guarantee. I won’t explain what that is since it isn’t relevant here. By “serious” I mean documents transferring ownership of financial instruments. For something like a contract or tax form, a scanned signature will probably suffice if the person receiving the signature is willing to assume the risk that it may be forged or is otherwise not being provided by the person identified by the signature. ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-solution-to-sending-a-pdf-back-to-someone-after-signing-it/489670/24 "2011-04-24T04:53:15Z")
> [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](#): > > For such cases isn’t it better to use email encryption or some other form of electronic authentication? > > Sorry if this is derailing the thread; maybe I should start a new one. Encryption isn’t an authentication mechanism. It’s a confidentiality mechanism (and, with PKI and such, a non-repudiation mechanism). ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-solution-to-sending-a-pdf-back-to-someone-after-signing-it/489670/25 "2011-04-24T04:57:30Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > What law? Which jurisdiction? Title 18 (Controlled Substances Act), for one, in determining the difference between “digital” vs. “electronic” signatures for things like Schedule I drug manufacturers moving dangerous drugs to distributors, and then on to retailers. There was a lot of industry feedback that came out of the proposal in the Federal Register. Somewhere around here I have a whole ppt slide deck that I put together on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-solution-to-sending-a-pdf-back-to-someone-after-signing-it/489670/26 "2011-04-24T14:30:29Z")
> [@GiantRat](#): > > Encryption isn’t an authentication mechanism. It’s a confidentiality mechanism (and, with PKI and such, a non-repudiation mechanism). It can also be used for authentication. Google ‘PGP authentication’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-solution-to-sending-a-pdf-back-to-someone-after-signing-it/489670.md?page=1)