Electronic documents

A method of converting an electronic document in a distributed electronic document system to an equivalent paper document, the electronic document being associated with a current holder (H), a first party who issued the electronic document and an intermediate holder of the electronic document, the method comprising:

• the current holder H requesting the first party to convert the electronic document to an equivalent paper equivalent document;
• the first party issuing a paper version of the electronic document;
• sending the paper document to the intermediate holder of the electronic document for signature;
• sending the paper document signed by the intermediate holder to the current holder H;
• sending the paper document from the current holder H to the first party for signature by the first party;
• and
• returning the paper document, signed by the first party and the intermediate holder to the current holder.

A computer record medium/read-only medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a computer, the instructions comprising:

• amending an electronic document in a distributed electronic document system, the electronic document being associated with a current holder (H) who has a right of control over the document and a first party, comprising:
• holder H raising an amendment request which details the amendments required to the electronic document;
• sending the amendment request from H to the first party via the electronic document system for approval;
• updating the electronic document with the amendments detailed in the amendment request if the first party approves the amendment request;
• and
• transmitting the updated electronic document to current holder H;
• wherein the method further comprises maintaining the right of control over the electronic document with H until the first party approves the amendment request.

A computer record medium/read-only medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a computer, the instructions comprising:

• converting an electronic document in a distributed electronic document system to an equivalent paper document, the electronic document being associated with a current holder (H), a first party who issued the electronic document, and an intermediate holder of the electronic document, comprising:
• the current holder H requesting the first party to convert the electronic document to an equivalent paper equivalent document;
• the first party issuing a paper version of the electronic document;
• sending the paper document to the intermediate holder of the electronic document for signature;
• sending the paper document signed by the intermediate holder to the current holder H;
• sending the paper document from the current holder H to the first party for signature by the first party;
• and
• returning the paper document, signed by the first party and the intermediate holder to the current holder.

A method of amending an electronic document in a distributed electronic document system comprising an electronic document system server connected to a plurality of user terminals in a communications network, the electronic document being stored on the electronic document system server and associated with a current holder (H) located at a current holder user terminal who has a right of control over the document and a first party located at a first party user terminal, the method of amending the electronic document comprising:

• holder H raising an amendment request which details the amendments required to the electronic document;
• sending the amendment request from H to the first party via the electronic document system for approval;
• updating the electronic document with the amendments detailed in the amendment request if the first party approves the amendment request, and
• transmitting the updated electronic document to current holder H;
• wherein the method further comprises maintaining the right of control over the electronic document with H until the first party approves the amendment request.