What change did the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure bring regarding e-discovery?

The correct answer highlights the significant changes the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure introduced regarding e-discovery, particularly focusing on access to and sharing of electronic records. The amendments explicitly addressed the growing relevance of electronic data in legal proceedings. They established clearer guidelines for the discovery process concerning electronically stored information (ESI), ensuring that parties involved in litigation could effectively locate, preserve, collect, and produce relevant electronic data in a timely and efficient manner.

This change is crucial because it reflects the shift from traditional document handling to a more complex, technology-driven landscape, recognizing the importance of ESI as a key component of evidence in civil cases. The rules facilitate the exchange of electronic records, setting standards to ensure that both parties can access necessary files while also requiring proper handling of this data to prevent spoliation.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of the revisions the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure made regarding e-discovery. For instance, the rules did not introduce stricter document requirements in the physical form, prohibit electronic evidence, or specifically raise penalties for non-compliance, which are alternate focuses that do not align with the key advancements in handling electronic records in legal contexts.