General Questions

What is the Electronic Postmark® Service and how does it work?

The USPS® Electronic Postmark® (USPS® EPM®) Service or USPS EPM Service is an electronic content integrity and time and date stamp service provided by Authentidate® under license from the U.S. Postal Service®. The Service utilizes standard cryptographic techniques and auditable time stamps to provide trusted proof of the content of any digital file as of a specific point in time.

The EPM Service accepts and stores information describing electronic files for later non-repudiation. Electronic files, which remain at the customer location, are run through a cryptographic hash algorithm and then time-stamped using a secure auditable time stamping master clock. The hash value, timestamp and certificate, the EPM, are stored by Authentidate in a highly secure repository for up to seven years from the date of application.

Later should an electronic file be the subject of a dispute involving questions as to whether changes have been made to the file, the file can be subject to verification in which the electronic file's EPM is re-hashed and compared with the original EPM applied.

What is the Plug-in for Microsoft® Office ?

The Plug-In for Micrososft® Office allows users to digitally sign Word documents and apply a trusted EPM® seal to them. Just click the blue eagle in the Microsoft® Word toolbar, apply an EPM seal to your document (contract, letter, agreement) and sign. This enables detection of document tampering and verification of document authenticity online.

What is the role of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS)?

The USPS® defines and maintains the technical and operational standards for USPS EPM Service Providers. The USPS® also provides emergency backup support to verify any EPM seals issued by an authorized EPM Service Provider.

How long is a USPS EPM stored?

A USPS EPM seal is stored for 7 years by Authentidate® with backup verification provided by the U.S. Postal Service.

How will Authentidate® protect the privacy of customer data?

Electronic data processed through the EPM® Service is never viewed or exposed. The EPM repository only maintains evidence of electronic data, never the document or file itself. Please see Privacy Policy for more information.

Are electronic documents stamped with an USPS EPM seal as legally binding as a signed paper document?

Significant legislative steps have been taken in the United States to promote e-commerce by making electronic signatures the legal equivalent of their paper based counterparts. In June 2000, President Clinton digitally signed the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

Known as "ESIGN", the new federal law gave electronic signatures, contracts and records the same legal validity as most of their handwritten and hard copy counterparts. ESIGN removes uncertainty as to the enforceability of electronically signed transactions, helps to reduce transaction costs and otherwise facilitates electronic contracting across all industries. Additionally, nearly all 50 states have enacted some form of an electronic signature and records statute for the purpose of promoting economic growth and the efficient operation of business and government in their individual states. Most states have adopted the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act drafted by The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) in 1999.

Known as "UETA", the Act is a model code that individual states may adopt to provide a legal framework for electronic transactions within their state, consistent with the federal ESIGN law, providing electronic signatures and records the same validity and enforceability as paper-based transactions.

The operational standards set forth for providers of the EPM® Service are consistent with ESIGN and UETA legislation, which provides general performance based guidelines for electronic signatures, by enabling electronic documents to be signed and content authenticity to be maintained and verified with the EPM® Service for auditing, compliance or legal matters.

How do I verify a USPS® Electronic Postmark®?

You must have the Plug-In for Microsoft® Office installed on your local machine to view the USPS EPM information. If you do not have it, you may download the software from: http://www.authentidate.com/index.php/content/view/75/455/
Next, make sure you are connected to the Internet.

Then, open the postmarked Word document and double-click on the EPM seal. The EPM seal Verification" dialog box will appear. This will allow you to verify the authenticity of the document. The EPM Service will compare the hash code of the document to the original hash code stored. If the hash's match, the document will be verified. For your convenience, this information can also be printed by clicking [Print All].

Make sure to store your postmarked document on your computer. Without the document, you will not be able to verify its authenticity!!

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