Subdivision 1.Certificates.

Unless otherwise provided by law or contract, a certificate issued by a licensed certification authority satisfies the requirement for an acknowledgment pursuant to section 358.52 of a digital signature verified by reference to the public key listed in the certificate, regardless of whether words of an express acknowledgment appear with the digital signature and regardless of whether the signer physically appeared before the certification authority when the digital signature was created, if that digital signature is:

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 325K.23

  • Certificate: means a computer-based record that:

    (1) identifies the certification authority issuing it;

    (2) names or identifies its subscriber;

    (3) contains the subscriber's public key; and

    (4) is digitally signed by the certification authority issuing it. See Minnesota Statutes 325K.01

  • Certification authority: means a person who issues a certificate. See Minnesota Statutes 325K.01
  • Certification practice statement: means a declaration of the practices that a certification authority employs in issuing certificates generally, or employed in issuing a material certificate. See Minnesota Statutes 325K.01
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Public key: means the key of a key pair used to verify a digital signature. See Minnesota Statutes 325K.01
  • verified: when used in reference to writings, means supported by oath or affirmation. See Minnesota Statutes 645.45

(1) verifiable by that certificate; and

(2) affixed when that certificate was valid.

Subd. 2.Digital signatures.

If the digital signature is used as an acknowledgment, then the certification authority is responsible to the same extent as a notary up to any limit on liability stated in the certification authority’s certification practice statement for failure to satisfy the requirements for an acknowledgment. The certification authority may not disclaim or limit, other than as provided in section 325K.17, the effect of this section.