Yes and no. If the cemetery is open and accessible to and by the general public, the information engraved on the tombstones is automatically in the public domain, just the same as B/M/D notices when placed in a newspaper are. If it is a "private" cemetery not readily accessible to the general public, where people need permission from the owner to gain access, then anyone wishing to photograph anything therein, should obtain a "Release" from the owner thereto, in which full particulars would be stated. Protects one's fanny if concerns arise. Information in the "public domain" can not be copyrighted and can be published by anyone. Most juristictions view producing photographs as publishing. If in doubt consult a Copyright Lawyer. Just my 2-1/2 cents worth. > On re-reading my original posting regarding cemetery photos, I don't think I > made myself very clear. How do you handle a situation where by a person > goes to their local cemetery with their trusty digital camera and > photographs all the headstones and sends them to this list for posting on > the website. Should permission be obtained from the owner of the cemetery > first? Just curious. Ron is right in that surviving spouses could have > their info on the headstone. > > Pat Brian Hurdle London, ON, CAN AntiSpam Email: multiboard@bhurdle.com (interchange bhurdle & multiboard)

I like to think my resting place as my final home.. If someone were to take a picture of my current home I doubt if I could prevent it from happening. So what's the difference? David Making life simple....

Boy with all the 2 and 2 1/2 cents worth we must have at least a dollar's worth of info by now! Most interesting tho. Never had any problems myself and I can't imagine photographing a lot of stones unless I had good reason; relative, request, etc. And, yes, I have really appreciated those who have transcribed stones and then published them on the 'net. It has helped me in my research tremendoulsly, filling in gaps, confirming, etc. Thanks! Gordon Harris Midhurst, Ontario, Canada Researching: HARRIS, GREEN, BOWLBY, COOMBER, BIRCH, SWAYZE, SMITH, BOUGHNER, MORRIS, CALDWELL, CASELEY, MCRAE in Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, United States, & Wales -------Original Message------- From: Brian Hurdle Date: 01/21/05 15:03:51 To: CA-ONT-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: RE: [ON-CEM] Policy on cemetery photos Yes and no. If the cemetery is open and accessible to and by the general public, the information engraved on the tombstones is automatically in the public domain, just the same as B/M/D notices when placed in a newspaper are. If it is a "private" cemetery not readily accessible to the general public, where people need permission from the owner to gain access, then anyone wishing to photograph anything therein, should obtain a "Release" from the owner thereto, in which full particulars would be stated. Protects one's fanny if concerns arise. Information in the "public domain" can not be copyrighted and can be published by anyone. Most juristictions view producing photographs as publishing. If in doubt consult a Copyright Lawyer.

Well, I shall build it up to three cents! I have taken pictures of cemeteries for individuals before and enjoyed it, but all were in small out of the way cemeteries. I live in Guelph and Woodlawn Cemetery is really handy to where I live, I have gone in there on a few occasions to take pictures.....but I was like a kid in a candy store, I didn't know which way to go, which way to turn.....it is so big, but oh so well organised! I ran into some health problems which are sorted out now, so come spring I will be in Woodlawn with my handy camera......and I know there are no objections because I asked one of the workers the last time I was there! Christine ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gordon Harris" <gordon.harris@sympatico.ca> To: <CA-ONT-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 3:40 PM Subject: Re: RE: [ON-CEM] Policy on cemetery photos > Boy with all the 2 and 2 1/2 cents worth we must have at least a dollar's > worth of info by now! > > Most interesting tho. Never had any problems myself and I can't imagine > photographing a lot of stones unless I had good reason; relative, request, > etc. And, yes, I have really appreciated those who have transcribed stones > and then published them on the 'net. It has helped me in my research > tremendoulsly, filling in gaps, confirming, etc. Thanks! > > Gordon Harris > Midhurst, Ontario, Canada > Researching: HARRIS, GREEN, BOWLBY, COOMBER, BIRCH, SWAYZE, SMITH, BOUGHNER, > MORRIS, CALDWELL, CASELEY, MCRAE in Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, > United States, & Wales > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Brian Hurdle > Date: 01/21/05 15:03:51 > To: CA-ONT-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: RE: [ON-CEM] Policy on cemetery photos > > Yes and no. > If the cemetery is open and accessible to and by the general public, > the information engraved on the tombstones is automatically in the > public domain, just the same as B/M/D notices when placed in a > newspaper are. > > If it is a "private" cemetery not readily accessible to the general > public, where people need permission from the owner to gain access, > then anyone wishing to photograph anything therein, should obtain > a "Release" from the owner thereto, in which full particulars would be > stated. Protects one's fanny if concerns arise. > > Information in the "public domain" can not be copyrighted and can be > published by anyone. Most juristictions view producing photographs as > publishing. > > If in doubt consult a Copyright Lawyer. > > > > > ==== CA-ONT-CEMETERIES Mailing List ==== > READ the taglines! > Before you ask for a lookup ...check > http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~silentguardians > In search of site: http://ocml0.tripod.com > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > >