What is a countersignature?
First, a review of the technical perspective by comparing a countersignature with a signature: A signature is created over the content of the document; a countersignature is created over the previously created signature. In a general sense, when you apply your countersignature, you are accepting that the “previous signature” is authentic. When you apply your signature, you are accepting and agreeing with the contents of the document. An example of using a countersignature in a research organization is when the creator/author of the research data signs and time stamps that data. Then, a colleague verifies the signature and time stamp of the author and applies the countersignature. The countersignature is not a statement of ownership or authorship of the data, but it is a statement of a review that the author did sign the research data.
