Lori

I know it's a long way from Kansas, but here in NSW Australia the State
Records Office has just issued a guideline which may be of use to you:

http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/recordkeeping/rib_11_digital_imaging_801.asp

 It says in part:

"Under the existing legal framework in New South Wales:

   - there is no barrier to public sector orgnisations tendering digital
   images of records as evidence for legal proceedings, for FOI applications or
   for other evidentiary purposes
   - under the *Evidence Act 1995*, an 'original' is not automatically
   regarded as better evidence than copies, including those made and kept by
   electronic means
   - the value of a record as evidence will, however, depend on how it
   has been created and kept, and organisations need to be prepared to show how
   they have protected images from tampering or loss."

and there is an ISO standard which sets out guidelines on how to ensure the
integrity of electronic images:

ISO 15801-2006 Electronic imaging - information stored electronically -
recommendations for trustworthiness and reliability. ISBN 073377797X (at
least that's the ISBN on the Australian version on my desk).

Neither of these answer your question, which as Peter says, depends. But if
you followed ISO15801 you should be better off in court in terms of due
diligence, best practice etc.

Cheers

Glenn

Glenn Sanders MRMA
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Australia

These views are mine alone. They may or may not be those of any
previous or present employers or clients. I don't know. If I'd asked
and they'd agreed, I would have signed it "Harry Peck and Co and
Glenn". Or whatever. But I haven't, so I didn't.

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