> David Rencher gave a talk at the FGS conference in Cincinnati in 1998 in > which he discussed various copyright laws and their effects on genealogy. > Unfortunately, my notes from the lecture are very incomplete (read > 'incoherent'). I seem to remember him saying something about European > copyright law making it illegal to transmit information [on living people, I > believe] by media such as GEDCOMs, e-mail, floppy, etc. Can anyone help me > out on this? > > Thanks, > > Sue Johnston > Laurel, MD > Sounds like the privacy laws, not copyright. I think the Berne convention makes copyright pretty much uniform. -- Tom Thatcher [email protected]

David Rencher gave a talk at the FGS conference in Cincinnati in 1998 in which he discussed various copyright laws and their effects on genealogy. Unfortunately, my notes from the lecture are very incomplete (read 'incoherent'). I seem to remember him saying something about European copyright law making it illegal to transmit information [on living people, I believe] by media such as GEDCOMs, e-mail, floppy, etc. Can anyone help me out on this? Thanks, Sue Johnston Laurel, MD

At 01:20 PM 6/19/00 -0500, [email protected] wrote: >Mr Singer says, "Plagiarists, please note, this site is copyrighted >(lists and compilations are copyrightable under Title 17, USC, Chapter 1, >Section 103(a)). The author of this site will prosecute any plagiarism to >the fullest extent of the law." Plagiarism isn't illegal except under some very strict codes that deal with the scientific world and their dealings with the government. Plagiarism is failure to properly cite sources. In many instances, compilations DO NOT meet the criteria of originality necesssary for copyright protection. Just because of someone put in a lot of work on a list or compilation does not mean it gets protected. That "sweat of the brow" concept was tossed out by the Supreme Court in 1991 in the Feist vs. Rural Telephone decision. http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/copyright/Creation/feist/feist.htm According to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, "The primary objective of copyright is not to reward the labor of authors, but '[t]o promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts.'" Authors are assured, by copyright, to the right to use and copy their original expression. However, Copyright is also intended to encourage others to build freely upon the ideas and information found in other works. In most fields of research, whether it be academic, commercial, or hobby, the growth of knowledge is very dependent upon the efforts of other researchers. This very much includes genealogy. http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/copyright/copyright.htm Mike Goad Cousins - A Chart For Determining Relationships http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/cousins/cousins.htm Using General Purpose Search Engines for Genealogy http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/html/search.html Comparison of Four Search Engines for Genealogy http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/html/search_too.htm Links to On-Line Resources http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/html/resources.htm Maps and Mapping Links http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/Resource_Links/Maps__etc/maps__etc.htm and more at our Genealogy homepage http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/index.htm

See also COPYRIGHT ISSUES: AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR OF "OLD CALVARY CEMETERY--NEW YORKERS CARVED IN STONE," by Rosemary Muscarella Ardolina , in the 7 June 2000 Ancestry Daily News. http://www.ancestry.com/ Alexandra

This may pertain -- http://www.mother.com/~randy/law.html, by Randy B. Singer, Attorney at Law. Mr Singer says, "Plagiarists, please note, this site is copyrighted (lists and compilations are copyrightable under Title 17, USC, Chapter 1, Section 103(a)). The author of this site will prosecute any plagiarism to the fullest extent of the law." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sounds as if the one who posted marriage records did include the society's format. But what does "a much older issue of the magazine" mean? Much older than what? Anyway, a list isn't the place to ask permission to post someone else's work. Need to ask whoever holds the copyright -- author and/or publisher.

I find myself very confused about the copyright laws as to old records. I have been reading through the archives of the list, and I am most impressed with what is there. A lawyer recently got a friend most upset. She is a nice person who wanted to share. She had asked about copyright issues before she posted to another list, and they gave her the go ahead. The lawyer wrote her privately and had her in tears. I felt for her. My question is this: A genealogical society publishes the marriage records of an area from the 1800's. A person finds the records in a much older issue of the magazine. Asks the list before she posts, get no negative responses, and several OKs. She posts the marriage records to the list. ** Does the genealogical society own the copyright? If so, is it because they transcribed the records into their magazine.? I can understand that they would be frustrated. I do not like to see my research quoted or posted without my knowledge. BUT I am only asking about legal ramifications here, not feelings. Does copying and transcribing the marriage book records give a group or person the copyright? I hope I do not sound unintelligent here, as I do have a college degree. It is useless however in this type of research. Be patient with my question, as it is meant sincerely, to help someone who is almost ready to walk away from research before she gets started. Thanks for your patience. Sydney Cardner (the Sydney is female) Florida

that lawyer has some information confused. the facts that are public domain are the names, dates, etc as they were taken from government records (not copyrightable at all). What that society copyrighted is the FORMAT in which the information was presented. W. David Samuelsen Bruce Cardner wrote: > > I find myself very confused about the copyright laws as to old records. I > have been reading through the archives of the list, and I am most impressed > with what is there. > > A lawyer recently got a friend most upset. She is a nice person who wanted > to share. She had asked about copyright issues before she posted to another > list, and they gave her the go ahead. The lawyer wrote her privately and > had her in tears. I felt for her. > > My question is this: > > A genealogical society publishes the marriage records of an area from the > 1800's. A person finds the records in a much older issue of the magazine. > Asks the list before she posts, get no negative responses, and several OKs. > She posts the marriage records to the list. > > ** Does the genealogical society own the copyright? If so, is it because > they transcribed the records into their magazine.? > > I can understand that they would be frustrated. I do not like to see my > research quoted or posted without my knowledge. BUT I am only asking about > legal ramifications here, not feelings. > > Does copying and transcribing the marriage book records give a group or > person the copyright? I hope I do not sound unintelligent here, as I do > have a college degree. It is useless however in this type of research. Be > patient with my question, as it is meant sincerely, to help someone who is > almost ready to walk away from research before she gets started. > > Thanks for your patience. > Sydney Cardner (the Sydney is female) > Florida > > ==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== > Searchable archives at > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=copyright > > ============================== > Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time. > http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/

Hi, I have a web site where people can list their birth, death and marriage info. Someone has asked me to include material download from Scots Origins. Scots Origins have a copyright notice that makes me think that I can't use their info, but then I was told that facts (which is what this is) aren't covered by copyright. I would love to have this info available to reasearchers, but obviously don't want to do the wrong thing. Can anyone advise me on this? Thank you Sue

Use of information from other sources is alright so long as it is a limited amount. This is what is known as "fair use." Fair use is a part of the copyright code. (See my discussion on fair use at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikegoad/html/copyright9.htm ) Proper citation is also important and adds credibility to your material. Unfortunately, much of the material found on the internet does not have any sort of documentation of source. Use of material developed by others without giving them credit is called plagiarism. While plagiarism is NOT illegal, some, especially those in academia, consider it to be highly unethical. (Please see my page on plagiarism http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikegoad/html/copyright10.htm ) (Plagiarism is covered under many university and college codes of conduct.) Mike Goad P.S. I personally include material found on the internet, even if un-sourced. I DO make sure that I document the web page, date, and as much information as is available At 02:47 PM 5/2/00 +0000, [email protected] wrote: >Hi, >I am new to the list so please excuse me if this a stupid >question. I have my genealogy data in my FTW database. >In the notes section I have added information that I have >found in various reference books, periodicals, and family >genealogies. I have also cut and pasted sections of >genealogies and things from other web sites. I have >listed the source of this information in my notes section >right along with the information. If I have this >information in the notes section of of my web pages >(GedPage) is that illegal? > > >==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== >Threaded archives at >http://archiver.rootsweb.com/COPYRIGHT-L/ > >============================== >Free Web space. ANY amount. ANY subject. >RootsWeb's Freepages put you in touch with millions. >http://cgi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/acctform.cgi

Hi, I am new to the list so please excuse me if this a stupid question. I have my genealogy data in my FTW database. In the notes section I have added information that I have found in various reference books, periodicals, and family genealogies. I have also cut and pasted sections of genealogies and things from other web sites. I have listed the source of this information in my notes section right along with the information. If I have this information in the notes section of of my web pages (GedPage) is that illegal?

While I don't disagree that the book is out of copyright, I am interested in this interpretation. Mike, I know that the US has a public domain clause but I thought that only applied to books that were published first (?) in the US at that time. I thought that the copyright law that applied was the law of the publishing land where he copyright existed not the law of where the book was. Knowing that the book was published in the United Kingdom (as Dublin was in 1892) I would have thought that the law that applied was UK copyright law and thus the 50 year rule. The one big exception to that is of course Crown copyright, which is basically where the government does the publishing and Crown copyright exists in perpetuity and does not comply with the 50 year rule. Minor quibble, every book written in the 19th century is not automatically out of copyright. While I admit that any such book is unlikely not to be so, there is still a possibility. Using the general Commonwealth nations 50 years after the death of the author, we can say that any book by someone who died prior to 1950 (in applicable countries) is out of copyright, given that there is still the chance that they were young toward the end of the 19thC and died old then the chance still arises, very slim of course. Regards Andrew <- learning every day (usually the hard way <wry g>) On 18 Apr 2000, at 18:43, Mike and Karen Goad <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, > > In the United States, that book is in the public domain. It's not because > of where it was published, but when and how it was published. > > First of all, it was published in the 19th century. Everything published > in the 19th century has entered the public domain. > > Second, with no copyright notice, it didn't satisfy the old United States > requirements for notice. Therefore, it would be considered to be in the > public domain on that as well. > > Works published in other countries are generally given the same copyright > protection as works published in the United States provided that they are > signatories of the various international copyright treaties. Likewise, > works published here are supposed to be protected under the copyright laws > of foreign countries. > > Mike > Check out my new genealogy resources at > http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/ > > > At 01:42 AM 4/18/00 -0700, you wrote: > > Hi -- It's been really quiet on this list lately <g>. > > Can someone please advise me on copyright of a book originally published > >in Dublin in 1892, which was out of print and then was reprinted by > >Genealogical Publishing Co., > >Baltimore, Maryland, which I believe is owned by LDS. The LDS has the entire > >book on microfiche, or film. Does LDS now own the copyright? The book is in > >two vols., having no copyright notice in them. Thanks. Andrea > > > > > >==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== > >Freepages, that is free web pages > >http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/press/freepages.html > > > >============================== > >The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > >Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. > >http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ > > > ==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== > Searchable archives at > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=copyright > > ============================== > The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. > http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ > -- Andrew Billinghurst * Have you got your free webpages at http://freepages.rootsweb.com ? * Find out how at http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/press/freepages.html

Andrew ( and all others interested), My understanding of the protection given to works originating from outside the United States is that they are TODAY afforded the same protection in the United States as any work that is published inside the United States. Likewise a work published in the U.S. should have the same protection in Australia as an Australian work. This has all been worked out through several treaties on copyright and intellectual property where those countries who are signatories have agreed to honor the works of other countries under their own copyright laws. Thus U. S. originated works are protected by English, Italian, Greek, Australian copyright laws in those countries. Until relatively recently, U.S works were actually protected longer in foreign countries than they were in the United States. These international treaties only make sense. You can't enforce British copyright law in the United States or Mexican copyright law in Holland. There is no jurisdiction for the authorities. However, a British company or individual can file suit in the United States for copyright infringement of a work published in Great Britain if the infringement is occurring in the U.S. Prior to 1978, all works in the U.S. were required to be registered in the copyright office to be eligible for protection. Also all works had to bear a copyright notice. A work published prior to 1978 without registration or a copyright notice didn't satisfy the prerequisites for protection and, therefore entered the public domain. Summary: A work is provided the copyright protection of the country that it is in, regardless of the country of origin. There are no U.S. works published before 1923 that are protected under U.S. copyright laws. Since foreign works now come under U.S. copyright law when they are in the United Sates, works published elsewhere before 1923 should not be protected in the U.S. under U.S. copyright law. I hope this make sense. The source for much of my information is from the historical and revision notes attached to the on-line U.S. code. This is, however, my interpretation and does not constitute any legal opinion, as I, of course, am not a lawyer. Mike I have other useful stuff at: http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy At 12:47 AM 4/26/00 +1000, Andrew Billinghurst wrote: >While I don't disagree that the book is out of copyright, I am >interested in this interpretation. > >Mike, I know that the US has a public domain clause but I thought >that only applied to books that were published first (?) in the US at >that time. I thought that the copyright law that applied was the law >of the publishing land where he copyright existed not the law of >where the book was. Knowing that the book was published in the >United Kingdom (as Dublin was in 1892) I would have thought that the >law that applied was UK copyright law and thus the 50 year rule. > >The one big exception to that is of course Crown copyright, which is >basically where the government does the publishing and Crown >copyright exists in perpetuity and does not comply with the 50 year >rule. > >Minor quibble, every book written in the 19th century is not >automatically out of copyright. While I admit that any such book is >unlikely not to be so, there is still a possibility. Using the >general Commonwealth nations 50 years after the death of the author, >we can say that any book by someone who died prior to 1950 (in >applicable countries) is out of copyright, given that there is still >the chance that they were young toward the end of the 19thC and died >old then the chance still arises, very slim of course. > >Regards Andrew <- learning every day (usually the hard way <wry g>) > >On 18 Apr 2000, at 18:43, Mike and Karen Goad <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > In the United States, that book is in the public domain. It's not because > > of where it was published, but when and how it was published. > > > > First of all, it was published in the 19th century. Everything published > > in the 19th century has entered the public domain. > > > > Second, with no copyright notice, it didn't satisfy the old United States > > requirements for notice. Therefore, it would be considered to be in the > > public domain on that as well. > > > > Works published in other countries are generally given the same copyright > > protection as works published in the United States provided that they are > > signatories of the various international copyright treaties. Likewise, > > works published here are supposed to be protected under the copyright laws > > of foreign countries. > > > > Mike > > Check out my new genealogy resources at > > http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/ > > > > > > At 01:42 AM 4/18/00 -0700, you wrote: > > > Hi -- It's been really quiet on this list lately <g>. > > > Can someone please advise me on copyright of a book originally > published > > >in Dublin in 1892, which was out of print and then was reprinted by > > >Genealogical Publishing Co., > > >Baltimore, Maryland, which I believe is owned by LDS. The LDS has the > entire > > >book on microfiche, or film. Does LDS now own the copyright? The book > is in > > >two vols., having no copyright notice in them. Thanks. Andrea > > > > > > > > >==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== > > >Freepages, that is free web pages > > >http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/press/freepages.html > > > > > >============================== > > >The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > > >Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. > > >http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ > > > > > > ==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== > > Searchable archives at > > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=copyright > > > > ============================== > > The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > > Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. > > http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ > > > > >-- >Andrew Billinghurst >* Have you got your free webpages at http://freepages.rootsweb.com ? >* Find out how at http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/press/freepages.html > > >==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== >Support RootsWeb - http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html > >============================== >The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: >Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. >http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/

1892? It is already expired even in Ireland, otherwise the GPC would not reprint it. David Samuelsen Patty Brown wrote: > > Canada's copyright is 50 years after the death of the author and I think US > copyright is 75 years after the book was written. Guess you'll have to find > out what Ireland's copyright laws are! It's more than likely public domain. > If someone reprints something they do not own the copyright to the original > material. > > Regards > Patty Brown > > At 03:32 PM 4/18/00 -0500, Laura Lee Scott wrote: > >The LDS do not own Genealogical Publishing Company. > >The archives of this list should have some messages > >regarding the > >copyrights owned after republication. > >

Hi, In the United States, that book is in the public domain. It's not because of where it was published, but when and how it was published. First of all, it was published in the 19th century. Everything published in the 19th century has entered the public domain. Second, with no copyright notice, it didn't satisfy the old United States requirements for notice. Therefore, it would be considered to be in the public domain on that as well. Works published in other countries are generally given the same copyright protection as works published in the United States provided that they are signatories of the various international copyright treaties. Likewise, works published here are supposed to be protected under the copyright laws of foreign countries. Mike Check out my new genealogy resources at http://www.cswnet.com/~sbooks/genealogy/ At 01:42 AM 4/18/00 -0700, you wrote: > Hi -- It's been really quiet on this list lately <g>. > Can someone please advise me on copyright of a book originally published >in Dublin in 1892, which was out of print and then was reprinted by >Genealogical Publishing Co., >Baltimore, Maryland, which I believe is owned by LDS. The LDS has the entire >book on microfiche, or film. Does LDS now own the copyright? The book is in >two vols., having no copyright notice in them. Thanks. Andrea > > >==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== >Freepages, that is free web pages >http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/press/freepages.html > >============================== >The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: >Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. >http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/

Canada's copyright is 50 years after the death of the author and I think US copyright is 75 years after the book was written. Guess you'll have to find out what Ireland's copyright laws are! It's more than likely public domain. If someone reprints something they do not own the copyright to the original material. Regards Patty Brown At 03:32 PM 4/18/00 -0500, Laura Lee Scott wrote: >The LDS do not own Genealogical Publishing Company. >The archives of this list should have some messages >regarding the >copyrights owned after republication. > >Andrea Vogel wrote: >> >> Hi -- It's been really quiet on this list lately <g>. >> Can someone please advise me on copyright of a book originally published >> in Dublin in 1892, which was out of print and then was reprinted by >> Genealogical Publishing Co., >> Baltimore, Maryland, which I believe is owned by LDS. The LDS has the entire >> book on microfiche, or film. Does LDS now own the copyright? The book is in >> two vols., having no copyright notice in them. Thanks. Andrea >> >> ==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== >> Freepages, that is free web pages >> http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/press/freepages.html >> >> ============================== >> The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: >> Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. >> http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ > >-- >L. L. Scott, IBSSG >L. L. Scott's Virtual Office: >http://www.geocities.com/~llscott/ >Peace: http://www.pcola.gulf.net/~llscott/peace.htm > > >==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== >Support RootsWeb - http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html > >============================== >The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: >Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. >http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ >

The LDS do not own Genealogical Publishing Company. The archives of this list should have some messages regarding the copyrights owned after republication. Andrea Vogel wrote: > > Hi -- It's been really quiet on this list lately <g>. > Can someone please advise me on copyright of a book originally published > in Dublin in 1892, which was out of print and then was reprinted by > Genealogical Publishing Co., > Baltimore, Maryland, which I believe is owned by LDS. The LDS has the entire > book on microfiche, or film. Does LDS now own the copyright? The book is in > two vols., having no copyright notice in them. Thanks. Andrea > > ==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== > Freepages, that is free web pages > http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/press/freepages.html > > ============================== > The RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > Tens of millions of individuals... and counting. > http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/ -- L. L. Scott, IBSSG L. L. Scott's Virtual Office: http://www.geocities.com/~llscott/ Peace: http://www.pcola.gulf.net/~llscott/peace.htm

Hi -- It's been really quiet on this list lately <g>. Can someone please advise me on copyright of a book originally published in Dublin in 1892, which was out of print and then was reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Maryland, which I believe is owned by LDS. The LDS has the entire book on microfiche, or film. Does LDS now own the copyright? The book is in two vols., having no copyright notice in them. Thanks. Andrea

Try also: http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/title17/ You can down the entire Copyright Laws for the US. Revised 1999 text. You will need Adobe Acrobat program to print. This a freeware. Just do a search and it will come up. Also Rootsweb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikegoad/html/code.htm Here's a few more: http://www.unc.edu/~unclng/public-d.htm Copyright Basics http://www.loc.gov/copyright/circs/circ1.html Copyright resource Page http://www.aimnet.com/~carroll.copyright/faq-home.html Board for Certification of Genealogists Code of Ethics and conduct http://www.bcgcertification.org/code.html Duration of Copyright: Works created on or after January 1, 1978(this all must be on one line) http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t17t20+36+5++% 27fair%20use%2 Hope these help, Cindy The Anneke Jans and Everardus Bogardus Web Page http://genweb.net/~cindy/Anneke/page0.htm The Quackenbosch/Quackenbush Family Page http://members.xoom.com/quackenbosch ----- Original Message ----- From: jean boutcher <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2000 1:00 PM Subject: 1991 US Supreme Court Decision Paper > Hi to all, > > I have heard through the grapevine about the existence of Copyright-L, > so I seized the day by signing up here. > > :-) Please kindly bear with me if my question has been posed many times > by other members of the List. > > Does anyone have a copy of something like 1991 the US Supreme > Court Decision about copyright laws? If so, would a kind soul > send the copy to me? I would be very grateful. > > Thanks in advance, > > Regards, > > Jean > > > Regards, > Jean > > ________________________________________________________________ > YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! > Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! > Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. > > > ==== COPYRIGHT Mailing List ==== > Searchable archives at > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=copyright > > ============================== > Personalized Mailing Lists: never miss a connection again. > http://pml.rootsweb.com/ > Brought to you by RootsWeb.com. > >

jean boutcher <[email protected]> wrote: > > Does anyone have a copy of something like 1991 the US Supreme > Court Decision about copyright laws? If so, would a kind soul > send the copy to me? I would be very grateful. > There is a great deal of information online at the US Copyright Office http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/circs/ The entire U.S. Copyright Laws (580 K worth) can be downloaded and read offline by going to http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/title17/ Publications and information circulars are available at http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/circs/ A very good page to start with, if the world of Copyright issues is new to you, is Copyright Basics at http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/circs/circ1.html You might also try Mike Goad's page at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikegoad/html/code.htm Mike has some excellent articles and links to sites with information on copyright as it applies to the Internet In terms of the specific court case you asked about, are you looking for the Feist Publications case of Jan to March 1991? It is not about copyright laws in general, but is a specific ruling/decision regarding a specific lawsuit over copyright of a telephone directory's white pages I don't recall any 1991 Supreme Court decision regarding copyright laws in general, but I'm sure others on the list can correct me if I missed something. I have a copy of the 1991 Feist Publications verdict if you would like to see it. Lorine Lorine McGinnis Schulze [email protected] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Olive Tree Genealogy http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/ The Canadian Military Heritage Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~canmil/ Upper-Canada Mail List http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/lists/uppercanada.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At 01:00 PM 4/8/00 EDT, you wrote: >Does anyone have a copy of something like 1991 the US Supreme >Court Decision about copyright laws? If so, would a kind soul >send the copy to me? I would be very grateful. Visit http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikegoad/html/code.htm for a lot of recent information about copyright laws. Glenn