{"id":26656,"date":"2026-08-13T16:46:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T14:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/?p=26656"},"modified":"2026-08-13T16:57:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T14:57:17","slug":"eidas-electronic-signature-vs-visual-addition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/eidas-electronic-signature-vs-visual-addition\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Signing&#8221; a document is not enough: what you can&#8217;t see makes all the difference"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"26656\" class=\"elementor elementor-26656 elementor-26654\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b709280 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b709280\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70c8ab1\" data-id=\"70c8ab1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e460d24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e460d24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<style>\n  #ai-header { background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%); 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color: #555; }\n  .fake-sig-box { background: #ffeaea; border: 2px dashed #dc3545; border-radius: 10px; padding: 22px 26px; margin: 25px 0; text-align: center; }\n  .fake-sig-box .fake-sig-name { font-family: 'Brush Script MT', cursive; font-size: 2em; color: #555; display: block; margin: 10px 0; }\n  .fake-sig-box p { font-size: 0.88em; color: #666; margin: 8px 0 0 0; }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"container\">\n\n  <header id=\"ai-header\">\n    <h1><span style=\"color:#ffffff;\">&#8220;Signing&#8221; a document is not enough: what you can&#8217;t see makes all the difference<\/span><\/h1>\n    <p class=\"lead-paragraph\">Script fonts, checkboxes, automatically inserted names\u2026 Many tools marketed as electronic signature solutions actually carry no legal value under the eIDAS regulation. Here is how to tell a real signature from a mere appearance.<\/p>\n  <\/header>\n\n  <div class=\"content-section\">\n    <h2>The illusion of the signature: when appearance replaces legal value<\/h2>\n\n    <p>Since the rise of online signing tools, a widespread confusion has taken hold in many organisations: mistaking the <em>appearance<\/em> of a signature for its <em>legal value<\/em>. Placing a first name in a cursive font on a PDF, or clicking &#8220;I agree&#8221; in a web form, does not constitute an electronic signature under the European eIDAS regulation.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"fake-sig-box\">\n      <span class=\"fake-sig-name\">John Smith<\/span>\n      <p>\u26a0\ufe0f This graphical element does not constitute an electronic signature. The document remains editable and no proof of identity is attached to the file.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <p>The eIDAS regulation defines three levels of signature (SES, AES, QES) that offer <em>very different<\/em> guarantees. What a truly robust signature requires \u2014 and what only the <strong>QES<\/strong> fully delivers \u2014 rests on three pillars:<\/p>\n\n    <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr 1fr;gap:18px;margin:25px 0;\">\n      <div class=\"sector-card\">\n        <h4>\ud83d\udd10 Integrity<\/h4>\n        <ul>\n          <li>The document is cryptographically sealed<\/li>\n          <li>Any subsequent modification is detectable<\/li>\n          <li>The signed content cannot be altered<\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"sector-card\">\n        <h4>\ud83e\udeaa Certified identity<\/h4>\n        <ul>\n          <li>The signatory is authenticated <em>with certainty<\/em><\/li>\n          <li>Their identity is linked to the document by a qualified certificate<\/li>\n          <li>Proof of identity is verifiable after the fact<\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"sector-card\">\n        <h4>\ud83d\udccb Traceability<\/h4>\n        <ul>\n          <li>A timestamped audit trail is generated<\/li>\n          <li>Each step of the process is recorded<\/li>\n          <li>The evidence is enforceable in the event of a dispute<\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"warning-box\">\n      <h4>\u26a0\ufe0f Important clarification: integrity vs certified identity<\/h4>\n      <p>Cryptographic sealing of the document applies to <em>all<\/em> eIDAS levels \u2014 including SES. A document signed by OTP through an eIDAS platform is indeed protected against modification. What fundamentally distinguishes the levels is the second pillar: <strong>the certainty of the signatory&#8217;s identity<\/strong>. A SES signature only proves that an OTP code was entered from the email address or phone number provided \u2014 it does not authenticate the real identity of the person. QES is the only level where identity is verified with certainty, via a qualified certificate and a rigorous enrolment process (itsme\u00ae or Evrotrust). This is precisely why it is the only level legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <p>A simple visual addition (script font, automatically inserted name) does not even reach SES level: it has no eIDAS status, the document is not sealed, and it can be challenged or disregarded with ease in the event of a dispute.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"content-section\">\n    <h2>The Odoo Sign case: a revealing example<\/h2>\n\n    <p>Odoo is a widely used ERP across Europe, deployed by thousands of SMEs. Its native <strong>Odoo Sign<\/strong> module allows documents to be sent for signature directly from the platform \u2014 which can give the impression of a complete electronic signing process. The reality is more nuanced.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"warning-box\">\n      <h4>\u26a0\ufe0f What Odoo Sign actually does in standard mode<\/h4>\n      <p>In its default configuration, Odoo Sign places the <strong>signatory&#8217;s name and initials as a graphical element<\/strong> on the document. It does not generate a cryptographic signature, does not protect the file against modification, and does not produce a sealed PDF document in the sense of the PAdES standard. The resulting document remains technically editable.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <h3>What about itsme\u00ae authentication?<\/h3>\n\n    <p>Odoo also offers an integration with itsme\u00ae, the Belgian digital identity application. This option adds an authentication layer: the signatory confirms their identity via itsme\u00ae before signing. This is a genuine step forward in terms of identity verification \u2014 but it does not solve the fundamental issue.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"warning-box\">\n      <h4>\u26a0\ufe0f itsme\u00ae authentication \u2260 eIDAS-signed document<\/h4>\n      <p>Even with itsme\u00ae authentication, Odoo Sign <strong>does not produce a signed and protected PDF<\/strong> under eIDAS standards. The result is an additional document indicating that the person authenticated \u2014 but this document is not cryptographically linked to the signed content, is not protected against modification, and does not constitute a qualified signature (QES) under the eIDAS regulation.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <p>To be entirely fair to Odoo: this module addresses internal workflow and validation needs. In a purely internal context \u2014 approving a procedure, confirming a meeting \u2014 it may be sufficient. But for any document with contractual, regulatory, or litigation potential, it does not provide the guarantees that an eIDAS signature delivers.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"callout-box\">\n      <h4>\ud83d\udca1 Key takeaway on Odoo Sign<\/h4>\n      <p>The value of a signature solution is not measured by its integration into an ERP, but by its level of eIDAS compliance. Odoo Sign is a workflow tool \u2014 not a qualified electronic signature solution. The two can coexist: Odoo for process management, e-Signature.eu for legally enforceable document signing.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"success-box\">\n      <h4>\u2705 The solution: integrate eIDAS signatures directly into your Odoo workflows<\/h4>\n      <p>e-Signature.eu offers an <strong>Odoo integration module<\/strong> that enables eIDAS signature requests \u2014 SES, AES or QES \u2014 to be triggered directly from your Odoo processes, without leaving the ERP environment. Your documents are cryptographically signed, protected against modification, and fully compliant with the eIDAS regulation. The best of both worlds: the power of Odoo workflows and the legal value of a real electronic signature.<\/p>\n      <p style=\"margin-bottom:0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/integration-odoo-signature-eidas\/\" style=\"color:#1e7e34;font-weight:700;\">Discover the e-Signature.eu Odoo module \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"content-section\">\n    <h2>The &#8220;unlimited signatures&#8221; subscription trap<\/h2>\n\n    <p>Another phenomenon deserves attention: monthly subscription offers including hundreds or even thousands of signatures for a fixed fee. At first glance, the savings seem obvious. Looking more closely, the reality is often very different.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"scenario-box\">\n      <strong>Typical example:<\/strong> a provider offers 300 signatures per month for \u20ac49\/month excl. VAT. At that price, each signature costs approximately \u20ac0.16. How is this possible for a qualified signature (QES), whose production requires certified identity verification and the issuance of an electronic certificate?\n    <\/div>\n\n    <p>The answer is simple: <strong>they are not qualified signatures<\/strong>. And often, they are not eIDAS signatures at all.<\/p>\n\n    <p>Two cases can be distinguished:<\/p>\n\n    <ul>\n      <li><strong>The best case:<\/strong> simple signatures (SES) \u2014 an OTP by email, for example. SES is the lowest level in the eIDAS hierarchy. It does seal the document, but has limited probative value as it does not authenticate the signatory with certainty. It is legally better than nothing, but far from a qualified signature.<\/li>\n      <li><strong>The frequent case:<\/strong> simple <strong>visual script additions<\/strong> \u2014 a name inserted in a cursive font, a signature image placed on the document, a ticked checkbox or a simple click \u2014 with no eIDAS infrastructure behind them. These elements have no legal status under the eIDAS regulation. The document is not sealed, the signatory&#8217;s identity is not verified, and there is no cryptographic proof of the act.<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n\n    <p class=\"disclaimer\">Methodological note: the comparative elements above are presented for illustrative purposes based on publicly available offers. Prices and technical specifications may vary by provider and change over time. Always consult current terms directly with each provider.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"warning-box\">\n      <h4>\u26a0\ufe0f What the subscription does not always tell you clearly<\/h4>\n      <p>The terms &#8220;electronic signature&#8221; or &#8220;e-signature&#8221; do not distinguish, in commercial communication, between the different eIDAS levels. A subscription including 1,000 signatures per month typically offers SES or AES signatures \u2014 rarely QES, which requires a far more costly certified infrastructure. Always verify the actual eIDAS level of the signatures included in your package.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"content-section\">\n    <h2>The three eIDAS levels: what the regulation actually says<\/h2>\n\n    <p>The eIDAS regulation (No. 910\/2014), complemented by eIDAS 2.0 (EU Regulation 2024\/1183), establishes a hierarchy of three electronic signature levels. Below these levels exists a fourth category \u2014 outside eIDAS \u2014 that enjoys no legal recognition: simple visual additions. These four realities are not interchangeable.<\/p>\n\n    <table class=\"comparison-table\">\n      <thead>\n        <tr>\n          <th>Level<\/th>\n          <th>Definition<\/th>\n          <th>Legal value<\/th>\n          <th>Examples<\/th>\n          <th>Document protection<\/th>\n        <\/tr>\n      <\/thead>\n      <tbody>\n        <tr>\n          <td><strong>Visual only<\/strong><br><span class=\"level-badge level-non\">Outside eIDAS<\/span><\/td>\n          <td>Graphical addition with no infrastructure \u2014 no eIDAS legal status<\/td>\n          <td>None \u2014 immediately contestable<\/td>\n          <td>Script font, signature image, native Odoo Sign<\/td>\n          <td><span class=\"cross\">\u2717<\/span> None<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n          <td><strong>SES<\/strong><br><span class=\"level-badge level-ses\">Simple<\/span><\/td>\n          <td>Any data in electronic form associated with other data<\/td>\n          <td>Limited \u2014 identity not certified with certainty<\/td>\n          <td>Email OTP, SMS OTP<\/td>\n          <td><span class=\"check\">\u2713<\/span> Yes (sealed document)<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr>\n          <td><strong>AES<\/strong><br><span class=\"level-badge level-aes\">Advanced<\/span><\/td>\n          <td>Linked to the signatory, created by data under their exclusive control<\/td>\n          <td>Strong probative value \u2014 not equivalent to handwritten signature<\/td>\n          <td>Veriff (AI), certain tokens<\/td>\n          <td><span class=\"check\">\u2713<\/span> Yes (sealed document)<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n        <tr class=\"highlight-row\">\n          <td><strong>QES<\/strong><br><span class=\"level-badge level-qes\">Qualified<\/span><\/td>\n          <td>AES + qualified creation device + qualified certificate<\/td>\n          <td><strong>Equivalent to handwritten signature<\/strong> throughout the EU<\/td>\n          <td>itsme\u00ae, Evrotrust<\/td>\n          <td><span class=\"check\">\u2713<\/span> Full (PAdES)<\/td>\n        <\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n    <\/table>\n\n    <div class=\"callout-box\">\n      <h4>\ud83d\udccc QES: the only level equivalent to a handwritten signature<\/h4>\n      <p>Only the qualified electronic signature (QES) has, under Article 25(2) of the eIDAS regulation, <strong>a legal effect equivalent to a handwritten signature<\/strong> in all EU member states. SES and AES have probative value \u2014 but they are not recognised as equivalent to a handwritten signature.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"content-section\">\n    <h2>What a real eIDAS signature delivers<\/h2>\n\n    <p>A qualified electronic signature is not simply a higher security level. It fundamentally transforms the nature of the signed document and the guarantees it provides.<\/p>\n\n    <h3>A sealed and unalterable document<\/h3>\n    <p>When a document is signed with a QES, a <strong>cryptographic fingerprint<\/strong> is calculated and embedded in the PDF file according to the PAdES standard (PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures). Any modification to the document after signing \u2014 even a single character \u2014 invalidates the signature and is immediately detectable by any compatible PDF reader. The document is literally &#8220;locked&#8221; at the moment of signing.<\/p>\n\n    <h3>A certified and enforceable identity<\/h3>\n    <p>QES relies on a <strong>qualified certificate<\/strong> issued by a trust service provider (QTSP) accredited under eIDAS. This certificate contains the verified identity of the signatory \u2014 verified during enrolment in the application (itsme\u00ae or Evrotrust). In the event of a dispute, the signatory&#8217;s identity is proven without any possible ambiguity.<\/p>\n\n    <h3>A complete audit trail<\/h3>\n    <p>Each step of the signing process is recorded and timestamped: invitation sent, document viewed, signature applied, download completed. e-Signature.eu automatically generates a <strong>downloadable PDF audit trail<\/strong>, providing additional evidence of how the process was conducted.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"success-box\">\n      <h4>\u2705 What you get with a QES via e-Signature.eu<\/h4>\n      <p>A cryptographically sealed PDF (PAdES) \u00b7 A qualified certificate linking identity to the document \u00b7 A timestamped audit trail \u00b7 Legal value equivalent to a handwritten signature throughout the EU \u00b7 Complete protection against any subsequent modification<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"content-section\">\n    <h2>The e-Signature.eu approach: QES without complexity or subscription<\/h2>\n\n    <p>e-Signature.eu is designed to make qualified signatures accessible to all businesses, without complex infrastructure or long-term financial commitment.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"competitor-card\">\n      <h3>e-Signature.eu <span class=\"badge badge-neutral\">Native QES \u00b7 No subscription<\/span><\/h3>\n      <p style=\"font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin:0 0 16px 0;\">QES is the default level \u2014 not a premium module or an additional paid option.<\/p>\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:16px;margin-top:16px;\">\n        <div class=\"pros\">\n          <h4>\u2705 Strengths<\/h4>\n          <ul>\n            <li>QES available from the first credit<\/li>\n            <li>Two QES methods: itsme\u00ae (32 countries) and Evrotrust (64 countries)<\/li>\n            <li>No subscription \u2014 pay-as-you-go model<\/li>\n            <li>Cryptographically signed PDF (PAdES)<\/li>\n            <li>Automatic audit trail included<\/li>\n            <li>Simple interface \u2014 signed in minutes<\/li>\n            <li>Compatible with INPI requirements (France)<\/li>\n          <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"cons\">\n          <h4>\u26a0\ufe0f Good to know<\/h4>\n          <ul>\n            <li>The signatory must have an active itsme\u00ae or Evrotrust account (for QES)<\/li>\n            <li>Prior identity verification is required from the signatory<\/li>\n            <li>QES is suited to high-stakes documents \u2014 not internal validations with no legal scope<\/li>\n          <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <p>e-Signature.eu also offers two additional levels for contexts where QES is not required: advanced signature (AES) via Veriff, covering 198 countries worldwide, and simple signature (SES) by email OTP, available everywhere. Each use case finds the appropriate signature level \u2014 without paying for more than necessary, and without falling into the trap of an insufficient solution.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"use-case-box\">\n      <h4>\ud83c\udfaf When to choose QES over other solutions?<\/h4>\n      <p><strong>Choose QES<\/strong> for any binding contractual document, any act requiring the equivalent of a handwritten signature (employment contracts, commercial agreements, notarial documents, INPI filings, mandates), and any situation where legal challenge is possible. <strong>Avoid non-eIDAS alternatives<\/strong> when proof of signatory identity and document integrity are essential.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"content-section\">\n    <h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n    <ul class=\"key-points\">\n      <li>A cursive font or an automatically inserted name does not constitute an electronic signature under eIDAS \u2014 the document remains editable and lacks reliable probative value.<\/li>\n      <li>Native Odoo Sign produces a visual element, not a cryptographically signed document \u2014 even with itsme\u00ae authentication, the resulting PDF is not protected under eIDAS standards. e-Signature.eu offers an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/integration-odoo-signature-eidas\/\">Odoo module<\/a> to integrate eIDAS signatures directly into your workflows.<\/li>\n      <li>Low-cost &#8220;unlimited signature&#8221; subscriptions often provide simple signatures (SES) \u2014 or even mere visual additions with no eIDAS status \u2014 not qualified signatures (QES).<\/li>\n      <li>A SES signature (email or SMS OTP) does seal the document cryptographically, but does not authenticate the signatory with certainty: it only proves that a code was entered from the email address or phone number provided, without real identity verification.<\/li>\n      <li>Only QES is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature throughout the European Union (Article 25(2) of the eIDAS regulation).<\/li>\n      <li>A real eIDAS signature cryptographically seals the document: any subsequent modification is immediately detectable.<\/li>\n      <li>e-Signature.eu offers QES on a pay-as-you-go basis, with no subscription, using itsme\u00ae (32 countries) and Evrotrust (64 countries), with an automatic audit trail for every signature.<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"cta-section\">\n    <h3>Ready to sign with real legal value?<\/h3>\n    <p>Try e-Signature.eu and discover eIDAS qualified signatures \u2014 no subscription, no commitment, from a single credit.<\/p>\n    <a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/our-prepaid-credit-packages\/\">View credit pricing \u2192<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Signing&#8221; a document is not enough: what you can&#8217;t see makes all the difference Script fonts, checkboxes, automatically inserted names\u2026&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":26674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wds_primary_category":227,"footnotes":""},"categories":[228,178],"tags":[174,181],"class_list":["post-26656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-api","category-rechtlich","tag-productivity"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26656"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26721,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26656\/revisions\/26721"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}