When developing systematics for the assigning of guarantees of existence several basic questions need answering. First of all, a decision has to be made who is able to set guarantees of existence.

The following three possibilities seem reasonable:

1. The guarantee of existence is set by the author of the text during the online publishing process.
   
   
   
2. Each piece of information within a pre-defined area (e.g. within a communication platform) is automatically provided with a pre-defined guarantee of existence. Either a period of time (e.g. until six months after publication) or a specific date (e.g. 2005/07/01, end of project) can be defined.
   
   
   
3. A reader, interested in the information, defines a certain point in time until which the information should be available. He either sets a new guarantee of existence or extends the one set by the author (or another reader). In order to allow the publisher to maintain its authority as an author to withdraw information, he or she has to be able to refuse the extension of a guarantee of existence.

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You can find a printable version here: "Guarantee of existence for digital information" (PDF, 376kB)