The legal classification of identity-based signatures

Abstract

Identity-based cryptography has attracted attention in the cryptographic research community in recent years. Despite the importance of cryptographic schemes for applications in business and law, the legal implications of identity-based cryptography have not yet been discussed. We investigate how identity-based signatures fit into the legal framework. We focus on the European Signature Directive, but also take the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures into account. In contrast to previous assumptions, identity-based signature schemes can, in principle, be used even for qualified electronic signatures, which can replace handwritten signatures in the member states of the European Union. We derive requirements to be taken into account in the development of future identity-based signature schemes.

Revocable and strongly unforgeable identity‐based signature scheme in the standard model

“…Compared with traditional public key cryptosystems using public key infrastructure (PKI), identity‐based cryptosystem simplifies the key management problem by avoiding public key certificates and attracts great attentions. Since then, a large number of literatures have been published in this area, including identity‐based encryption schemes , identity‐based signature schemes and identity‐based signcryption schemes .…”