Regarding the production of ESI, what is not required if deemed inaccessible?

When it comes to electronically stored information (ESI) in the context of legal discovery, certain considerations dictate what must be provided and under what conditions. If ESI is considered "inaccessible," it means that retrieving or producing that information would impose an undue burden or expense.

In this case, the production of that inaccessible ESI is not required, which is why the correct answer is related to the discovery of inaccessible ESI itself. Discovering ESI typically involves identifying, locating, and reviewing data that is relevant to a matter. However, if that ESI is deemed inaccessible, the party is not obligated to make it available as part of the discovery process. It recognizes the practical limitations and the financial implications of dealing with data that is difficult to retrieve or not readily usable.

This principle helps to ensure that litigation is fair and that parties are not forced to incur unreasonable costs in producing data that is extraordinarily difficult to access. Other options, such as changing formats, producing in multiple formats, or providing on external drives, all pertain to data that is accessible and are therefore subject to the requirements of discovery.