Electronic signature law is not yet a uniform and universal law, and rules and regulations regarding electronic signatures may differ depending on a specific location. In the United States, individual states still have their own sets of legal guidelines regarding electronic signatures, however there are also some federal standards that apply in regard to electronic signature law. The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, also known as the E-Sign Act, is a federal law that was passed by the United States Congress in 2000. The E-Sign Act makes contracts signed with electronic signatures equally legally valid as hard copy paper contracts with handwritten ink signatures. The E-Sign Act often preempts certain state laws, especially regarding interstate commerce. Another US federal act related to electronic signature law is the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, or UETA. The purpose of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act is to set a uniform standard for electronic signature law that replaces separate state laws. Nearly every US state has adopted UETA as of 2009, with a few exceptions.