In a message dated 3/11/2006 2:14:15 PM Eastern Standard Time, bvelke@whollygenes.com writes: I can't help but wonder how one might enhance something without altering it <g>. They may not have altered it in a way which is significant to you (i.e., insofar as the text content) but they clearly do claim to have altered ("processed", "enhanced", "synthesized") it. We went through this type of discussion back when Ancestry first developed the "grayscale" process by which they enhance census images. They don't claim to copyright the photos (probably after considering all the legal options) although I believe (don't quote me on it) that the process by which the photos are made IS patented. Unless Heritage Quest is doing something different and more creative in altering or adding to their census images the same would apply. I'm with Mike and Pat that overstating the applicability of copyright where one probably doesn't exist is harmful to the genealogical community. If you want to have licensing agreements, fine---let the subscriber/user decide whether he wants to use your product and adhere to the licensing terms or not--but don't threaten copyright infringement where there is a tenuous at best claim to the aplicability of copyright. Joan