Patent ID: 7801862

Claim:
A method of retaining a complex object, comprising: using a processor to receive an indication that a retention policy applied to a root content object of a complex object is to be extended to one or more child objects of the complex object, wherein the complex object comprises a logical stored object that includes a plurality of content items including at least the root content object and the one or more child objects, each of which is stored and tracked separately by a content management system configured to store the complex object, and wherein applying the retention policy to a content item includes ensuring that the content item is retained for a specified period and ensuring that the content item is subsequently disposed of in a prescribed way; creating and storing a snapshot of at least the current versions of the one or more child objects in a storage; and using a processor to apply the retention policy to the snapshot, wherein retention of the snapshot ensures that a content comprising the one or more child objects, as the content existed at a time of the snapshot, is retained so long as the root content object is retained and in the same manner as the root content object is retained even if the one or more child objects are not retained.