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Data and digital operations · France and Switzerland : separate country-labelled rules

Electronic archives: reliable copies and evidence

Electronic storage and a legally reliable copy are not identical concepts. France's evidence rules and Switzerland's accounting-record requirements must be examined separately. Record the original, reproduction method, integrity controls, retention history and readability. A cloud upload or a provider's marketing label alone does not establish every evidential or accounting condition, and the applicable record category matters.

  • Original and copy
  • Identifiable origin
  • Integrity and process
  • Retention and retrieval
Go to the toolSee the texts cited
  • Official texts cited
  • Sources checked on
  • Drafted with AI assistance, our method

By the AlphaDeep legal editorial team

General legal information with official references and dated checks. It is not personalised advice: for a decision that commits you, have your situation checked by a qualified professional.

Julie by AlphaDeep

Illustrative conversation
Example question

What supports electronic origin on the French side?

Julie Illustration

Civil1366 requires identifiable origin and integrity-preserving conditions. Keep the actual evidence rather than relying on the file extension.

Read the references

Your question concerns “Electronic archives: reliable copies and evidence”. I can help organise the facts and records. Which document have you received or prepared, and is this a French or Swiss matter?

French law

3 free questions at signup. Avoid names and sensitive information.

Answer

Which document is being preserved?

Separate paper original, electronic original and scanned copy. Their format alone does not give them identical evidential status.

Code civil art. 1366Code civil art. 1379220 : Art. 958 f272 : Art. 180 Production des titres

Tool

Which records are still missing from your file?

Indicate which records you have. The result identifies gaps and prepares a complete question for Julie, without requiring an account.

julie://tool/bordereauNothing leaves your browser

Answers stay on this page until you explicitly continue to Julie. Avoid names and sensitive information.

Fictional example · Your preparation

Point to complete: Retention and retrieval. Identify the document category and retrieval conditions. Swiss CO 958f concerns specified accounting records, not every document without distinction.

Original and copy
Record available
Identifiable origin
Record available
Integrity and process
Record available
Retention and retrieval
Needs checking
Records indicated
3 / 4
  1. Which retention obligation applies?

This worksheet organises records; it does not establish admissibility, entitlement or a procedural outcome.

Answer

What supports electronic origin on the French side?

Civil1366 requires identifiable origin and integrity-preserving conditions. Keep the actual evidence rather than relying on the file extension.

Answer

How is copy integrity documented?

Record process, versions, access and available logs. A PDF label or cloud storage does not establish reliability by itself.

Answer

Which retention obligation applies?

Identify the document category and retrieval conditions. Swiss CO 958f concerns specified accounting records, not every document without distinction.

Comparison

Which documents answer which questions?

Which documents answer which questions?
Record or informationIssue to check
Original and copySeparate paper original, electronic original and scanned copy. Their format alone does not give them identical evidential status.
Identifiable originCivil1366 requires identifiable origin and integrity-preserving conditions. Keep the actual evidence rather than relying on the file extension.
Integrity and processRecord process, versions, access and available logs. A PDF label or cloud storage does not establish reliability by itself.
Retention and retrievalIdentify the document category and retrieval conditions. Swiss CO 958f concerns specified accounting records, not every document without distinction.

Code civil art. 1366Code civil art. 1379220 : Art. 958 f272 : Art. 180 Production des titres

Answer

Does scanning permit destruction of the French original?

Civil1379 includes conditional reliability rules and the possibility of requiring an existing original. Scanning is not automatic permission to destroy it.

Code civil art. 1366Code civil art. 1379220 : Art. 958 f272 : Art. 180 Production des titres

The law

Which official provision helps explain this situation?

Si l'original subsiste, sa présentation peut toujours être exigée.

Code civil art. 1379In force since 1 October 2016Read on Légifrance

In plain English: Civil1379 includes conditional reliability rules and the possibility of requiring an existing original. Scanning is not automatic permission to destroy it.

Answer

Can a Swiss court ask for more than a copy?

CPC180 permits copies but provides for originals or certified copies where justified authenticity doubts arise. Special original-retention duties remain separate.

Code civil art. 1366Code civil art. 1379220 : Art. 958 f272 : Art. 180 Production des titres

Answer

How should practical retrieval be tested?

Check readability, search and export without changing the reference file. Record the test and technical dependencies.

Answer

What does the archive preparation deliver?

It connects document, origin, process and retention. It certifies no archive system and authorises no destruction of originals.

Frequent questions

What other questions arise in this file?

What supports electronic origin on the French side?

Civil1366 requires identifiable origin and integrity-preserving conditions. Keep the actual evidence rather than relying on the file extension.

Code civil art. 1366Code civil art. 1379220 : Art. 958 f272 : Art. 180 Production des titres

Which retention obligation applies?

Identify the document category and retrieval conditions. Swiss CO 958f concerns specified accounting records, not every document without distinction.

Code civil art. 1366Code civil art. 1379220 : Art. 958 f272 : Art. 180 Production des titres

Does scanning permit destruction of the French original?

Civil1379 includes conditional reliability rules and the possibility of requiring an existing original. Scanning is not automatic permission to destroy it.

Code civil art. 1366Code civil art. 1379220 : Art. 958 f272 : Art. 180 Production des titres

How should practical retrieval be tested?

Check readability, search and export without changing the reference file. Record the test and technical dependencies.

Code civil art. 1366Code civil art. 1379220 : Art. 958 f272 : Art. 180 Production des titres

Sources

Which official references should you consult?

  1. Code civil art. 1366Légifrance
  2. Code civil art. 1379Légifrance
  3. 220 : Art. 958 fFedlex
  4. 272 : Art. 180 Production des titresFedlex

Texts cited last checked: 1 November 2026

Next steps

Which neighbouring situations should remain separate?