(a) The court requires the submission in digital format of petitioner's papers on review, respondent's brief and appendix, if any, and petitioner's reply brief, if any (see sections 530.2 and 530.4 of this Part), as companions to the required number of printed documents served and filed in accordance with this Part.

(b) The companion filings in digital format shall comply with the current technical specifications and instructions for submission available from the clerk's office.

(c) The companion filings in digital format shall be identical to the original printed filings, except they need not contain an original signature.

(d) Unless otherwise permitted by the clerk of the court, companion filings in digital format shall be received by the clerk's office no later than the filing due date for the printed documents served and filed in accordance with this Part.

(e) A request to be relieved of the requirements of this section to submit companion filings in digital format shall be by letter addressed to the clerk of the court, with proof of service of one copy on each other party, and shall specifically state the reasons why submission of companion filings in digital format would present an undue hardship.

(f) The clerk of the court may reject companion filings in digital format that do not comply with the requirements of this section or the technical specifications and instructions for submission available from the clerk's office.