================================================== If any of you have submitted a family tree to Ancestry.com/MyFamily.com for free viewing by researchers, there are some things you need to know about the new "OneWorldTree" service at the MyFamily suite of websites, which includes Ancestry, MyFamily, Rootsweb, etc.. Your family tree genealogy database(s) will continue to be viewable at no cost, using the current search engines at Ancestry; however, the new OneWorldTree service, which requires a paid subscription, will shortly be including the data in your submissions in its service. What the OneWorldTree service does is search through all the family tree databases on the Ancestry/MyFamily websites and includes all the data from them. It is a scheme to make it easier for the "online" researcher to find pertinent information quicker and easier, and to present such information in a compiled format. At the same time, Ancestry/MyFamily will gain increased revenue from subscribers to the new OneWorldTree, and the subscription price is NOT cheap -- $49.95 for a 14 month subscription, or $39.95 if you are already subscribed to the basic services at Ancestry. Personally, I have no objections to Ancestry/MyFamily doing this, AS LONG AS THEY CONTINUE TO OFFER, for free, searches of the "old" "Ancestry World Tree" databases. Those who want to save some time in their searches, and who are willing to pay the price, are welcome to the "new" search utility. If you don't like the idea of Ancestry/MyFamily taking your contributed genealogy database files and including them in their "paid" search utility, you'll have to remove your tree from the Ancestry World Tree database. Go to: http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/trees/owt/ Click on "What's a Preview". Scroll down to #4: "Have you already submitted a family tree?" Click on "...view our checklist...". A few lines down you will see: "If for any reason you do not want your tree to be part of the new OneWorldTree service, you must delete it from the Ancestry World Tree database by tentatively May 21, 2004." There are instructions for removing your tree: <http://ancestry.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ancestry.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1090> (When you get to the page that is opened when you click on "...view our checklist...", I suggest you go to the bottom of the page and click on each link there and read what each says.) ================================================== READ ON: I have received several emails from genealogy researchers who are crying, "The sky is falling." If I have read all the information at Ancestry correctly, the family tree databases contributed freely to Ancestry World Tree will still be available at no cost to all users, and it's only when one wishes to access the special OneWorldTree utility that another paid subscription is necessary. If later I'm proven wrong in this matter, that is, if the "free" family trees are no longer "free", and if a user must pay for OneWorldTree to see ANY user contributed family tree databases, I will be the first to call for a petition to boycott all of MyFamily's various genealogy endeavors! (I do remember some Rootsweb users warning about such mercenary, money-grubbing behavior when Rootsweb sold out to Ancestry/MyFamily. ) And, I will be the first to delete my family tree databases at Ancestry and advise everyone else to do likewise. (I don't think this will happen -- NO ONE is going to contribute their genealogy databases to a company that charges others to view them!) If anyone has a different take on this, please feel free to let us know. As I hear from other users of Rootsweb/Ancestry, I will pass along the information. Regards, SgtGeorge George W. Durman -- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 7.0.241 / Virus Database: 262.9.20 - Release Date: 5/11/04