Potential applications

Application Scenarios

	Intellectual property protection
	E-commerce (B2C)
	E-commerce (B2B)

E-Commerce(B2B)

Peter, the managing director of AA Press Limited, wants to introduce electronic means of transactions into the company to reduce cost. But he has some doubts about e-commerce, as the contracts are not written in black and white. Then he comes to know a paper supplier, Superior Papers Company, which accepts online orders and uses timestamping service. The company claims that timestamping guarantees content integrity and non-repudiation. After learning more about timestamping, Peter finds it true.

Peter tries to do business with Superior Papers and requests a quotation from them. They response quickly and send him an electronic quotation with a timestamp. The timestamp proves the accurate issuing time and the content integrity of the quotation, as well as the identity of the issuer. Peter knows that although the quotation is not in black and white, it is as valid as a paper quotation, as stated in the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.

Peter is satisfied with the terms and conditions of the quotation, so he goes to the website of Superior Papers to fill out the online order form and cites the quotation number. The Superior Papers’ system generates a purchase order with all the transaction details and sends it to the Timestamping Authority (TSA) for a timestamp. Both Peter and Superior Papers receive a copy of the purchase order and the timestamp and the transaction is made..

The timestamp contains an accurate time, the hash value of the transaction details and both parties’ identities from their digital certificates. The use of timestamps guarantees that neither of them can deny the occurrence of the transaction nor change the transaction details. If a dispute occurs afterwards, they can use the timestamp as evidence to settle the dispute. With Electronic Time-Stamping, both parties are protected.

Because Superior Papers uses timestamping service, Peter has more confidence in doing business with it and decides to choose it as AA’s long term paper supplier. Peter finds the use of timestamping by Superior Papers very successful, so when AA sets up its own online bookstore, it also uses timestamping service.