Archival & Digital Legacy, Preserving Your Digital Work

Photo: Huffpost

Archival & Digital Legacy, Preserving Your Digital Work

Abstract:

Background:

• When a person dies, their digital footprint persists.
• Digital providers assume ownership of Intellectual property (IP) created on their servers.
• Family and workgroup attempts to archive or maintain deceased works are blocked.

Approach:

• We worked within system permissions shared by the creator.
• We tested possible workarounds
• We contacted providers for account/work access

Findings:

• Limited Copy, Move, possible
• Edit (update), Delete, not possible, without creator account access.
• Providers reluctant to discuss or allow access to deceased work,(IP).

Conclusion:

• Advance planning needed for adding Trusted Friends and/or family member access to digital accounts in Trusts and/or Wills
• Everyone needs to learn provider policies and legal requirements for establishing a “Legacy” path of transfer of ownership.
• Passing your digital footprint when you can no longer login

By Budd Turner