Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Electronic Chattel Paper

BY Benjamin J. Court
October 02, 2015

Traditional or tangible chattel paper has long been used to finance equipment purchases. One of the significant benefits bestowed upon chattel paper financers is the ability to perfect a security interest via possession, and in so doing potentially achieve priority over pre-existing secured lenders who perfected by filing a UCC Financing Statement. This system generally worked well, and trillions of dollars have been financed in this manner.

In 1999, provisions of Article 9 of the UCC relating to secured lending were updated to permit the creation of “electronic chattel paper.” Electronic chattel paper is essentially chattel paper evidenced by records existing electronically (i.e., a file on a computer). It is distinguished from tangible chattel paper in that electronic chattel paper is not actually paper at all. Electronic chattel paper also is not tangible chattel paper merely executed via electronic signatures or tangible chattel paper converted to electronic form via a facsimile machine or scanner. Instead, and as explained in more detail below, electronic chattel paper is data that memorializes the original record of a financing transaction and that exists and is stored in a secure electronic medium.

Due to the inherent difficulties in “possessing” electronic data, the UCC revisions, in part, defined a new form of control over electronic chattel paper that would be treated as equivalent to possession of tangible chattel paper. In concept, this would permit chattel paper financiers to retain their priority with electronic documents.

Read These Next
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models Image

Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.

Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge Image

As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.

Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator Image

How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.

Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising Image

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.

Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality Image

This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.