A general query re 'archives'. Someone in AoIR felt that the onus for deciding which digital content or properties in digital form should be kept and which should be erased ought to lie with the Sys-Op. Beside the fact that general policy dictated at most universities a six month period beyond the end of contract of staff member or student - this varied depending upon the storgage capacities of different institutions as well as their different levels of polity in these matters, is this not a difficult contract for the management of digital properties, in the industries of education and of media at large? 1. the 'world view' of the sys-op is, the sys-op would be the first to agree, a fairly narrow one. Hence the sys-op, blessed with heightened 'wisdom' or not, is perhaps not the best person to make judgement concerning such properties. 2. This onus on the sys-op puts him or her (but of course most often him) in a position of legal responsibility that he or she would nor the industry would like to bear. 3. the combination of fairly narrow world-view with heightened legal responsibility compromises our digital properties to abuses of power. I have a few instances in mind. I wonder what the general level of perception, understanding and insight is among the Association of Internet Researchers about this question. I mean, are there any legal minds in AoIR, and if not would AoIR like connection with some? Lachlan Brown (416) 826 6937 VM (416) 822 1123 -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup 1 cent a minute calls anywhere in the U.S.! http://www.getpennytalk.com/cgi-bin/adforward.cgi?p_key=RG9853KJ&url=http://...