A Study on the Acceptance Requirements of an Original" Document and Copies under UCP 600

UCP 600에서의 원본서류와 사본의 수리요건에 관한 연구

It is a basic rule in the credit law that original documents are required unless otherwise stipulated by the credit. Due to modern technology enabling documents to be produced in many ways it may not always to decide whether a document is original or a photocopy. In consideration of modern technology and the advent of new methods of document production, ICC has drawn up the provisions on original documents in Article 22 (b) of UCP 400 for the first time. The equivalent provision in UCP 500 is Article 20 (b). As a result of many queries to ICC Banking Commission on what constitutes an "original" documents under UCP 500 and several court cases in connection with original documents, the ICC Banking Commission has issued Decision on original documents in July 1999. Based on this Decision, the ICC dealt it in Article 17 under UCP 600 which came into force on July 1, 2007. There are some changes, replacements and new provisions of UCP 600 concerning original documents and copies. Importers, exporters, insurance companies, other third parties and, above all, banks should pay attention to some changes and implications of UCP 600 concerning original documents and copies. The purpose of this paper is to examine the provisions on original documents and copies under UCP 600. For this purpose, firstly this study deals with the relative provisions on original documents and copies under pre-UCP 600. Secondly this study considers the provisions on original documents and copies under UCP 600. Thirdly this study compares the provisions under pre-UCP 600 with the provisions under UCP 600. Finally this study analyzes the cases decided both home and abroad in connection with original documents. This paper contribute to help the parties to letters of credit to understand the provisions on original documents and copies under UCP 600.