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Commerce over open networks like the Internet, sometimes referred to as electronic commerce, is becoming more widespread. This makes it important to study, and solve the security problems associated with electronic commerce. There are three prominent characteristics of commerce which are relevant in this respect. First, the crux of a commercial transaction is usually one or more erchanges of items of value. Second, players in a commercial transaction do not necessarily trust each other fully. Thus, protecting players from each other is as important as protecting them from outside attackers. Third. commercial transactions have legal significance. Therefore, it must be possible to gather sufficient evidence during the transaction to enable correctly behaving players to win any subsequent disputes.

This dissertation addresses the problem of fairness in electronic commerce. A system that does not discriminate against …