Electronic Signature Guide
When ATOVIA sells content that can't be undone once opened — like e-books or courses — we have you sign an electronic contract. Here's why it's needed, how it holds legal effect, and what records we keep.
As of September 16, 2026
1. Why we ask for a signature
Once digital content leaves our hands, it can't be taken back. If a single copy of an e-book gets shared, that book can never be sold again. That's why, only where the content itself is the product, we have you sign a contract that confirms copyright and scope of use together.
We don't ask for one to view test results, use a tool, join a live session, or access free materials.
2. The legal basis for its effect
Digital Signature Act (Korea), Article 3(1) — An electronic signature shall not be denied the effect of a signature, signing and sealing, or signing and affixing a name and seal, solely on the ground that it is in electronic form.
Paragraph 2 of the same Article — Where, under a statutory provision or an agreement between the parties, an electronic signature is chosen in place of a signature, signing and sealing, or signing and affixing a name and seal, that electronic signature has the effect of a signature, signing and sealing, or signing and affixing a name and seal.
Framework Act on Electronic Documents and Transactions, Article 4(1) — An electronic document shall not be denied legal effect solely on the ground that it is in electronic form.
Paragraph 2 of the same Article — Where an electronic document is retrievable and is preserved in the form it was when created, converted, sent, received or stored, or in a form that can be reproduced in the same way, that electronic document is deemed to be a document in writing.
The 2020 full revision of the Digital Signature Act abolished the accredited certificate system. Electronic signatures that aren't accredited certificates now start from the same line and carry the same effect.
3. If a dispute arises, what proves it
Civil Procedure Act, Article 358 presumes a private document bearing the signer's own signature to be authentic. However, if the other party disputes it by claiming, "I didn't sign this," it must be possible to show that the signature was in fact made with that person's own intent. That's why ATOVIA keeps the following for every signature.
| Who | Full name · email · identity verification method and time · member number (if signed in) |
| When | Time the contract was opened · time you finished reading it · time you agreed · time you signed |
| Where | The IP address you connected from · the browser and device you used |
| What | The exact full text of the contract at the moment of signing, together with its fingerprint (SHA-256) · the contract version number · the language you viewed it in |
| What you bought | Product · amount · currency · order number |
Even if the contract changes later, the content as it stood the moment you signed stays exactly as it was. Its fingerprint (hash) is kept alongside it, so even a single changed character shows up immediately.
4. How to sign
- Confirm your name. The value you already entered is filled in for you.
- Sign. You can draw your signature by hand or upload an image of your seal. Once you've created it, you'll just need to tap it from then on.
- Check the agreement box. We fill in the signing date and email for you.
Sign once, and that contract also applies to your later purchases. We'll only notify you again and ask for your agreement if the contract's content changes.
5. If you're buying from outside Korea
eIDAS Regulation (EU), Article 25(1) — An electronic signature shall not be denied legal effect and admissibility as evidence in legal proceedings solely on the grounds that it is in electronic form or that it does not meet the requirements for qualified electronic signatures.
ESIGN Act (US), 15 U.S.C. §7001(a) — A signature, contract or record shall not be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability solely because it is in electronic form.
The contract is provided in your own language. If you're purchasing from the United States, we show you, before you sign, the five disclosures required by ESIGN Act §7001(c) — your right to receive a paper copy, your right to withdraw consent, how to request a paper copy, the scope of your consent, and the hardware and software requirements needed.
6. Personal information
ATOVIA does not collect your resident registration number. The Personal Information Protection Act, Article 24-2, provides that a resident registration number may not be processed without a specific legal basis, and there is no such basis for selling online content.
We collect only the information needed for signing, and use it for no purpose beyond fulfilling the contract and responding to disputes. For details, see Privacy policy.
7. Frequently asked questions
Does an electronic signature have legal effect?
Yes. The Digital Signature Act, Article 3(1), provides that the effect of a signature is not denied solely because it is in electronic form, and paragraph 2 of the same Article provides that if the parties agree to use an electronic signature, it has the effect of a signature or of signing and affixing a name and seal. The 2020 full revision abolished the accredited certificate system, so electronic signatures that aren't accredited certificates now start from the same line.
Is a contract signed on screen recognized as a "document in writing"?
The Framework Act on Electronic Documents and Transactions, Article 4(1), provides that an electronic document's effect is not denied solely because it is in electronic form, and paragraph 2 of the same Article provides that it is deemed a document in writing if it is retrievable and preserved in a form that can be reproduced as it was when created. ATOVIA keeps the full text of the contract as it stood the moment you signed, together with its fingerprint (hash).
What does ATOVIA record?
So that who signed, when, and for what can be shown without dispute, we keep the following: your name and email, your identity verification method and its time, the time you signed, the IP address you connected from and the browser you used, a record that you opened the contract and read it to the end, the original wording of the consent text, and the full text of the contract at the moment of signing together with its fingerprint.
Why do you even keep my IP address?
The Civil Procedure Act, Article 358, presumes a document bearing the signer's own signature to be authentic. However, if the other party disputes it by claiming, "I didn't sign this," it must be shown that the signature was in fact made with that person's own intent. Your access record is the evidence used for that purpose, and we use it for nothing else.
Do you ask for a signature on every product?
No. We only ask for one where the content itself is the product and can't be undone once it's out — e-books, courses and memberships fall into this category. We don't ask for one to view test results, use a tool, join a live session, or access free materials.
Do I have to sign every time I buy?
No. Sign once, and that contract also applies to your later purchases. We'll only notify you again and ask for your agreement if the contract's content changes.
Where can I see the contract I signed?
You can view it anytime in My World, and we also send a copy to the email you signed with. If you need a paper copy, please request one through Customer Support.
Do you collect my resident registration number?
No. The Personal Information Protection Act, Article 24-2, provides that a resident registration number may not be processed without a specific legal basis, and there is no such basis for selling online content.
What if I change my mind after paying?
If you haven't opened the content yet, you can withdraw within 7 days of your payment date and receive a full refund. However, under the Act on the Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, Article 17(2)(v), withdrawal is restricted for digital content once its provision has begun. If the content is defective or differs from what was described, you can withdraw under Article 17(3) of the same Act.
Do you sign the same way for purchases from outside Korea?
Yes. The EU's eIDAS Regulation, Article 25, and the US ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) also do not deny effect solely because a signature is in electronic form. The contract is provided in your own language, and for purchases from the United States, we show you the five disclosures required by ESIGN Act §7001(c) before you sign.
8. See also
This page is for informational purposes only; your actual rights and obligations are governed by the contract you signed and the Terms of Service. If you have any questions, please let us know through Customer Support.