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Oct 18 2016 TalkingPoints

Dazza Greenwood edited this page Aug 1, 2017 · 1 revision

Talking Points, Dazza Greenwood

  • October 18th, 2016

Blockchain Definition

The term ‘blockchain technology' means:

distributed ledger technology that uses a consensus of replicated, shared, and synchronized digital data that is geo-graphically spread across multiple digital systems.''

Smart Contract Definition

The term 'smart contract term' means:

a term in a contract that provides for automatic performance of the requirements of such term by an electronic agent, including an electronic agent that uses blockchain technology, upon the performance (by an electronic agent or otherwise) of the requirements of another term in the contract or the occurrence of another event specified in the contract.''

Proposed Substantive Law

For purposes of this title, a signature that is secured through blockchain technology shall be considered to be in electronic form, and shall be considered to be an electronic signature, but only if the signature is composed of— ‘‘(1) a personal identification number; and ‘‘(2) either— ‘‘(A) an alphanumeric code; or ‘‘(B) a unique biological identifier (such as a fingerprint, retina scan, or facial recognition)

Open Questions:

Guideposts for Initial Blockchain Legislative Action?

Balancing Technology Specification Neutrality

How to avoid unintended consequences of technical specification (too much detail and/or not accurately targeted detail):

  • Locking in "today's how" we accomplish the process instead of describing "timeless what" a process must accomplish
  • Risk freezing innovation by legislatively enshrining market winners and/or rapid obsolescence of the law because the market evolves beyond the legislatively specified technology

"But only if..." + Technology Specific

Providing appropriate defaults & gap fillers

  • Following, supporting and reflecting best practices
  • Filling gaps with novel rules to correct demonstrated market failures

Extending Demonstrably Successful State and Other Laws

  • UETA to ESIGN was good example

Removing legal obstacles to beneficial commercial or social practices

  • eliminating prior media specific legal lock-in
  • clarifying uncertainty applicable law
  • reassuring risk-averse counsel of legality

Scope and Application of Definitions

Matching Legal Significance of Key Functions & Capabilities

Within the scope of the body of law under consideration:

  • EG: Security Procedure and Record Integrity
  • EG: Store/Print Safeguard and Later Discoverability
  • EG: Attribution/Liability and Linkable Identifiers
  • EG: Notice/Posting and Public Verifiability

Implications of foreseeable subsequent legislation

Definitions and rules reuse, revision or reversal in future Blockchain legislation in other areas of law and regulation

  • Individual Identity and Personal Data
  • Legal Notices and Authoritative Records
  • Public Algorithms and Due Processors