Sorry, that's not quite accurate. Anything you create is now _automatically_ covered by copyright (however you cannot collect damages from an infringer unless you've filed a formal copyright registration). Posting your creation (i.e., message) on a public message board does not affect your copyright and nobody has the right to republish or sell it without your consent. If some company is selling your creations without your consent, they're in violation and you can force them in court to cease and desist. Cyndi Howells, owner of http://www.CyndisList.com/ prevailed in court a couple of years ago against other websites who were copying (not just linking to) her materials. However if you read the "fine print" associated with the message board in question (or almost any message board operated by a commercial concern), I can almost guarantee you'll find you've agreed to let them use any creations you post in any manner they choose without further agreement from you or compensation to you. If you disagree with this, you should not post to that board. (Disclaimer: The above is my opinion based on my personal understanding of current US copyright law, however I'm NOT an attorney and my opinion cannot be relied upon.) At 11:40 AM 03/25/2001 -0800, Margrett McCorkle wrote: >" To steal from one is to PLAGIARIZE > To steal from many is RESEARCH" >Once you put something in Print and post it for all to read, unless you have >it copyrighted, there is no way to keep others from using it. >About the only way you can put the people out of Business is not to buy the >product. >"Think about it, It'll come to ya!" >Margrett > > > >==== BURK Mailing List ==== >Verify the subscription status for all your RootsWeb mailing lists; your list of >subscriptions will be emailed to you. >http://passwordcentral.rootsweb.com/ >=======================================================