Is certified, archival-quality recordable optical media available?
At present, no certified, archival-quality recordable optical media available in the market. This is despite interest in such from a number of users: Digital archivists desire writable optical media with life expectancies of 50, 75, or 100 years. Business and government entities are interested in how optical media might help them comply with regulatory requirements for record-retention, with retention periods ranging from six years to permanent. [11] The following reasons help to explain the unavailability of certified, archival-quality recordable optical media: No independent body is presently responsible for testing or certifying the longevity of optical media. The complexity and cost of ISO 18927:2002 testing up to two years is impractical when compared to the pace of recordable optical media development. [12] Innovation is being driven by the mass-market consumer side of the industry, rather than by professional archival requirements. [13] The market for such specialized media may
