The Determination of an Original Document in L/C Transactions through Electronic Communication System

정보 및 전자통신하의 신용장거래에서 "Original Document"의 판단기준

Over a period of several years there have been a number of queries raised with the ICC Banking Commission as to the determination, by banks, of what is an "original"document under a letter of credit and the necessity, if my, for such a document to be so marked. So, the ICC Banking Commission Decision on original documents was sent to members in July. This Decision emphasizes the need to correctly interpret and apply sub-Article 20(b) of UCP 500. Consequently, about Hand signed documents, Facsimile signed documents, Photocopies and Telefaxed presentation of documents, Banks examine documents presented under a letter of credit to determine, among other things, whether on their face they appear to be original. Banks treat as original any document bearing an apparently original signature, mark, stamp, or label of the issuer of the document, unless the document itself indicates that it is not original. Accordingly, unless a document indicates otherwise, it is treated as original if it : appears to be written, typed, perforated, or stamped by the document issuer's hand; or appears to be on the document issuers original stationery; or states that it is original, unless the statement appears not to apply to the document presented (e.g. because it appears to be a photocopy of another document and the statement of originality appears to apply to that other document).document).

무역거래에서 통신수단의 급격한 발달로 서류가 상대방에게 전달되는 과정에서 서류상의 내용은 전자문서교환으로 즉시 전달될 수 있으나 문서의 원본은 그렇지 못한 실정이므로 각종 전파나 전자매체로 전달되어오는 문서의 진위를 가려내는 것이 가장 큰 문제로 지적되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구는UCP 500의 규정을 근거로 정보 및 전자매체하의 신용장거래에서 원본과 사본에 대한 은행의 인정 및 판단기준 및 이와 관련된 사례 및 실무상의 유의점을 구체적으로 제시함으로써 신용장거래에서 은행이 서류를 심사할 때 무엇이 원본이고 무엇이 사본 서류인지에 대한 명백한 근거를 제시하였다.