Proof, compliance and data
Evidential value
Evidential value is the weight a document can carry to prove a fact or an act before a court or a public authority.
French law ranks evidence: some is binding on the judge, such as a notarised deed, while the rest is left to the judge's assessment. An electronic document carries the same weight as paper, provided its author can be identified and its integrity guaranteed. Outside the cases where a written document is required, any means of proof is admissible.
Why it matters for fax
A received fax is a copy, whose value depends on its reliability and the evidence around it. The transmission report, a timestamp and keeping the document sent intact are what turn 'I faxed it' into a demonstrable fact.