[Jaruzel]

Seconded. I am also curious about old submissions, especially those that did not get any traction - are the held in the db forever, or are they aged off and deleted?

I'm expecting that all comments are held forever though.

Finally, who owns my comments, me or HN?

[greenyoda]

Regarding comments: you own them, and grant Y Combinator the license to use them forever, as per https://www.ycombinator.com/legal -

"User Content Transmitted Through the Site: With respect to the content or other materials you upload through the Site or share with other users or recipients (collectively, “User Content”), you represent and warrant that you own all right, title and interest in and to such User Content, including, without limitation, all copyrights and rights of publicity contained therein. By uploading any User Content you hereby grant and will grant Y Combinator and its affiliated companies a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty free, fully paid up, transferable, sublicensable, perpetual, irrevocable license to copy, display, upload, perform, distribute, store, modify and otherwise use your User Content for any Y Combinator-related purpose in any form, medium or technology now known or later developed."