Patent ID: 7792945

Claim:
A computer implemented method of managing the retention of data, comprising: providing at least one data source having data stored therein, wherein the data is associated with a plurality of parameters, and wherein the retention of the data within the data source is defined in a retention schedule by default rules relating to conditions for retention; providing an Information Lifecycle Management Application (ILMA) on a computer readable medium, the ILMA comprising: an E-Discovery Management Application (EMA); and an Enterprise Retention Management (ERM) application for managing disposition requests; providing at least one connector comprising an interface between the ILMA and the at least one data source; receiving at least one hold request through the ILMA, wherein the hold request identifies a portion of the data within the at least one data source that must be preserved; executing the at least one hold request, forming held data, wherein held data is exempted from default rules defined by said retention schedule; creating at least one data disposition request for the ILMA, wherein the data disposition request identifies a portion of the data within the at least one data source to be deleted; resolving the disposition request with the held data, forming a resolved request, wherein the resolved request comprises an instruction to dispose of the portion of data identified in the data disposition request minus the held data; and executing the resolved request, thereby deleting the portion of data identified in the data disposition request minus the held data.