The goal of the EDRM XML project was to provide a standard, generally accepted XML schema to facilitate the movement of electronically stored information (ESI) from one step of the electronic discovery process to the next, from one software program to the next, and from one organization to the next. The ESI includes both underlying discovery materials (e.g., email messages and attachments, loose files, and databases) and information about those materials (e.g., the source of the underlying ESI, processing of that ESI, and production of that ESI).

If deployed properly, the schema should help:

• Reduce the costs of moving data from one step to the next, one program to the next, one organization to the next
• Reduce errors associated with that movement of data
• Reduce electronic discovery software development costs and shorten development cycles
• Increase the transparency of the entire electronic discovery process

As with the initial EDRM project, the work product from the new projects has been made available to the public at no charge. We encourage use of the schema and related materials. We ask, however, that those who use the schema and related acknowledge that use.