Rule 5.1002 Requirement of the original

If you want to prove what a document, recording, or photo says, you generally need to bring the actual original to court. Copies, descriptions, or someone's memory of the content usually aren't good enough on their own.

This rule exists because originals are the most reliable proof of what something actually says or shows. Copies can be altered, incomplete, or just wrong, so courts want the real thing when the content itself is what's being argued about.

There are exceptions built into other rules and laws that allow copies or other evidence to be used instead of the original in certain situations. So while the original is the starting point, it's not always the only option.