Under the Best Evidence Rule, duplicates are admissible unless there is a genuine issue about the original’s authenticity.

Under the Best Evidence Rule, duplicates are admissible unless there is a genuine issue about the original’s authenticity.

• A. Duplicates are inadmissible if the original exists
• B. It must be the original
• C. Duplicates are admissible unless a genuine issue exists about the original’s authenticity
• D. Duplicates are never admissible

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is that the Best Evidence Rule allows a duplicate to prove the contents of the original, as long as there isn’t a genuine dispute about the original’s authenticity. In other words, a copy can stand in for the original unless someone seriously challenges whether the original exists, was altered, or accurately reflects what was originally created. If there is such a genuine authenticity issue, the duplicate may be excluded and the original—or additional proof of authenticity—may be required. That’s why the correct statement is that duplicates are admissible unless a genuine issue exists about the original’s authenticity. The other options misstate the rule: duplicates are not categorically inadmissible just because an original exists, nor are duplicates never admissible, and it isn’t required that the original must always be produced in every situation.

The key idea here is that the Best Evidence Rule allows a duplicate to prove the contents of the original, as long as there isn’t a genuine dispute about the original’s authenticity. In other words, a copy can stand in for the original unless someone seriously challenges whether the original exists, was altered, or accurately reflects what was originally created. If there is such a genuine authenticity issue, the duplicate may be excluded and the original—or additional proof of authenticity—may be required.

That’s why the correct statement is that duplicates are admissible unless a genuine issue exists about the original’s authenticity. The other options misstate the rule: duplicates are not categorically inadmissible just because an original exists, nor are duplicates never admissible, and it isn’t required that the original must always be produced in every situation.