| May I lick the contract? | | | | colors. Maybe the law can change. And there is |
| The Chemical Signature is a simple concept: make | | | | nothing against chemical tracers. |
| your ink unique by mixing a new color and adding | | | | It is also possible to sign in black (with subtle amounts |
| secret components. Even salt and sugar will do it. Now, | | | | of chemical tracers) and stamp in color. You need a |
| the custom ink could have been invented by Da Vinci, | | | | stamp to state that "This document is signed / |
| but without Internet it would have been very hard to | | | | stamped with Custom Ink #123456". |
| associate a person with its Own Ink. It is possible now | | | | Another problem would arise when you lose your pen |
| for everyone to have a custom ink, adding safety to | | | | or rubber stamping pad. Your ink can fall in the wrong |
| signatures and rubberstamps. The ink is obtained by | | | | hands. However, it is easy to implement a reporting |
| mixing standard colors in different proportions. As a | | | | system such as the one that Credit Cards have. |
| first step in validation, the colors are shown in a | | | | Is this document radioactive? |
| website, under a code.The additional components that | | | | As a matter of fact, yes. If you are reading this in |
| add safety to the OwnInk system are substances that | | | | paper, it will be less radioactive than a computer |
| are easy to detect, if you know what you are looking | | | | monitor, but it still has a background radiation. |
| for. If you do not, you need a multimillion dollar lab and | | | | The ink can have radioactive components that are |
| many hours of expert chemists or biochemists. To | | | | easy to identify and measure. However, if they stay |
| know some of the secret components, the validator | | | | below certain limits, no authority will complain. |
| needs to register in a website. More components | | | | Alternatively, some biological components can be |
| mean more safety levels, and more requirements for | | | | added for extra safety and easy detection by a |
| validators. | | | | biochemical lab. DNA or saliva could be good options, |
| What is wrong with the $1 ball pen? | | | | but the company providing such an ink would be liable |
| In these times of digital signatures, nobody pays | | | | for handling hazardous materials. However, many |
| attention to ink signatures, which are still made as in the | | | | biochemicals are safe enough to be included in the ink. |
| Middle Ages, but move billions of dollars every hour. Ink | | | | Fluorescent, magnetic and particulate components are |
| signatures in paper will probably stay around until we | | | | also possible. |
| extinct all the forests. | | | | The letter is a worthless lie, but the ink is $890 |
| However, when handwriting analysts mention | | | | Who is going to profit from the chemical signature? |
| technology, they mean a magnifying glass. No changes | | | | The banks will save money in graphoanalysts and |
| have appeared in the way we sign and in how the | | | | forged checks. Validator entities will earn from the |
| signatures are verified. On the other hand, criminals | | | | simple and profitable chemical analysis. Resellers of the |
| have now scanners, graphic software and check | | | | ink kits, pen makers and gift shops will also have a bite. |
| software, enabling them to easily falsify any rubber | | | | It is not clear how will Notaries perform when the rules |
| stamp or signature, no matter how complicated. | | | | of their business get turned upside down. Some will join |
| As a result, attempted check fraud in US banks | | | | the innovation and take advantage of it, while others |
| surpassed $4.32 billion in 2001, doubling for the 2nd time | | | | will see their business disappear. Scam artists will |
| in 4 years (American Bankers Association Deposit | | | | certainly spend thousands in chemistry courses and lab |
| Account Fraud Survey Report). | | | | equipment. |
| Not only banks need to verify signatures: notaries, | | | | The product can be segmented into several price |
| universities, governments and those who face the | | | | ranges. The simplest custom ink with few components |
| globalized economy. And still, they rely on visual | | | | and little guaranty will cost about $5, while the |
| examination to compare signatures. | | | | ultra-secure variety with a golden pen will go over 800. |
| You can sign in any color, as long it is black. | | | | Beyond all the safety issues, there is a powerful |
| There are a few obstacles for the Chemical Signature. | | | | reason for the Chemical Signature to succeed: the |
| For instance: Will Notaries accept signatures with | | | | impulse of people to affirm their personality, to be |
| Customized Safety Ink?. Probably not, because the | | | | fancy and original. |
| law favors Black. One reason is that light blue is bad | | | | Sergio Samoilovich |
| for xeroxing, but there is nothing wrong with other | | | | OwnInk. |