2.7 Problems with XML Signature

XML Signature is a generic standard, covering most ways by which a digital signature in XML format could be employed. In most cases a digital signature used in a protocol or legal document needs to be narrowly defined to ensure that it cannot be abused. A protocol may require that the signature needs to be enveloped only. The allowed transformations may be restricted to a few cases. Key information may be required in one particular format. Therefore it is likely that the XML signature elements will be redefined in many cases, restricting its usage. Hopefully there will be standard ways to do this, so that each protocol or standard, making use of XML Signature, does not have to continually 'reinvent the wheel'.