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When publisher wants to sign and they send agreement via e-mail attachment and asking to scan, sign and send signed version back, is this ok to do? Or should I ask for snail mail version even it takes more time?

In theory at least if contract includes 4 pages where last page is for signatures, this signatures page could be used to any other purposes? Though I will of course sign my own version to my own use as well. But still... this just popped to my mind...

How would it be any different than if you signed the agreement and snail-mailed it to them? Couldn't they as easily use the last page for anything else as well?

Scanning and emailing contracts is becoming more of the norm these days. Personally I would not be concerned (I do this all the time). If still in doubt, you may wish to consult an attorney.

Steve

I do it all the time as well.

Ok thanks, I will also continue to sign by scanning.

Steve, funny thing is that your point is actually very true and I had kind of "black moment" last night with this topic For some reason I did thought it would be easier to cheat with scanned versions but in practise it probably isn't.

You can save the paper by doing it all digitally. Make a one-time signature on paper, scan that (cut down to be smaller dimentions), and use that image for signatures. Also, for text on contracts, use a free Photoshop-like app (Gimp, etc) and enter text, also importing the signature. Preview (Mac) can do some of this, too - it depends. Be sure to flatten the layers and/or convert to an image (which you can then also convert to PDF). It does take longer, but it also means that when your printer runs out of ink (which is too often in my experience) - you can still complete the paperwork.

As a side note, and totally cool printer-hack, I found a video recently on this: If the printer is out of ink, it won't scan (silly, right? but that happened to my HP printer). The hack described just pulling out the ink cartridges and putting some black electrical tape over the metal connection points, and pop them back in; wala your scanner now works with no ink (because it should, right?).

I know of at least one library that uses digital signing altogether, no scanning.