Risks associated with digital preservation : Media deterioration, media obsolescence and file format obsolescence(<Special feature>Preservation: deterioration of media and measures)

Abstract

Media deterioration, media obsolescence and file format obsolescence are major risk factors for digital preservation. To sort such problems out, appropriate deterioration prevention measures, migration (copying data to newer media), and risk management of file format obsolescence are required. In this paper, the longevity and some deterioration prevention measures of the major storage media are described, and some possible migration strategies are suggested. Moreover, it introduces efforts to manage the risk of file format obsolescence, which are mainly made outside Japan.