Quality control in online databases

When this group approached me for a paper I was then Database Systems Manager for the European Law Centre, publishers of the online legal library EUROLEX. Since then much coloured water has flowed beneath the bridge, so although I will be picturing the philosophies of that service, this paper should be interpreted as just one approach which could apply in any electronic publishing venture. It follows that any opinion is my own and does not reflect Eurolex now or in the future. None of us can deny the past, but for all I know certain substantial changes may be envisaged—although the philosophy should be stable—and quality control should be synonymous with stability.