G'morning, This is an interesting thread to say the least! Many different opinions. I can tell you that I also have numerous of the (Broderbund) products. I also have used the tools located on their web site as well. The NEGHS did contract Broderbund for manufacturing their cd package. A lot of libraries do use them, thanks to people who have donated them to the libraries. Atleast in the case here, that is how they have acquired them. I also know from experience with Broderbund that when you request a search and find that it indeed is your line or connected to it, that unless you OWN that cd, you are not able to electronically request the submitters information any longer. You must call their office, and if you get someone who knows what they are doing, you will receive the information so that you can contact the submitter. Not at all, always an easy task. I can also tell you that on their ftm-tech list your not allowed to ask questions about information on cd's nor are you allowed to ask help in obtaining submitters data. As far as submitting data to them. That is a choice we have as individuals. I personally feel that any submitter of data regardless of what the data is, should receive some sort of discount on a purchase of one of their research tools. After all they are taking your information and making money on it by publishing and selling their cd's. Information which you / we all worked hard to acquire by spending countless hours digging and looking, not to mention the money each individual has invested as well in their research. You, as a researcher, should equally be compensated just as Broderbund is when they sell your data along with others. It all adds up down the road. Again, how can anyone hold a copyright on a public document? I also know from having several of their cd's that there are restrictions listed on each cd. Example from one cd I have is listed here. They state as follows: Use this Family Archive CD responsibly. This Family Archive CD has been licensed to you for your personal use. It is copyrighted, and must be used in accordance with its License Agreement. You are in violation of the License Agreement if you make all or part of a Family Archive available to more than one person at a time, if you upload all or part of a Family Archive's contents onto an electronic bulletin board, or if you circulate a printout taken straight off the Family Archive. For more specific information about your license to use this Family Archive, please read the License Agreement below. License Agreement You may not: 1. Allow more than one user at a time. 2. Reproduce, publish, distribute, or sell any data on the Family Archive CDs. 3. Use the software and/or data on a network or bulletin board or place it in a multi-user environment without express written permission of Brøderbund Software. 4. Lease or rent the software, data, documentation or their use to any other individual or entity. 5. Disassemble, decompile or reverse engineer the software or data. But the above is just my opinion, Addie