Patent ID: 7818300

Claim:
A method of managing content, comprising: receiving an indication that a retention policy is to be applied to a selected item of content comprising a body of managed content; and using a processor to automatically retain the selected item of content and its associated metadata in parallel in accordance with the retention policy, including: (1) preventing metadata associated with the selected item of content from being deleted or otherwise finally disposed of until the selected item of content has been deleted or otherwise finally disposed of in accordance with the retention policy; (2) ensuring that metadata associated with the selected item of content is deleted or otherwise finally disposed of once the selected item of content has been deleted or otherwise finally disposed of in accordance with the retention policy; and (3) preventing metadata associated with the selected item of content from being viewed during the period that the selected item of content is placed on hold, wherein the retention policy includes a policy for placing a hold on content to ensure it is retained in a location during a hold period.