Heide, You say you were "essentially told by this individual researching the same family 'You have a family you can not do anything with. The copyrights are good for 75 years.'" This person doesn't know what they are talking about! Anyone can independently research any family (or any other subject) they please and publish the results of that independent research. NO copyright infringement can occur unless you borrow from their work directly - and you can even quote =short= statements from their book, so long as they are properly credited (i.e. the so-called "fair use" doctrine). "Copyright" is just that: the right to copy. It does not give the author of a factually-based work a monopoly on the subject matter! In fact, it is inevitable that multiple researchers working on the same family will consult many (even most) of the same pre-existing sources, including previously published books and public records (such as wills, probate records, deeds, cemetery records, etc.). Depending on their relative competence and diligence, it is equally inevitable that independent researchers will reach the same conclusions regarding factual matters (dates of birth, marriage and death; occupations; military service, etc.); such facts cannot be copyrighted. In any event, it does not matter =who= consulted those records first, nor does any author acquire copyright on the previously published works of others (much less copyright on public records) merely by having located and consulted those records first. The sorts of records I have described are readily available to the knowledgeable public and copyright law recognizes no right based on a "race" to find and publish pre-existing material, whether public or private. Richard ([email protected]) -----Original Message----- From: Heide Sciacca <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Monday, July 26, 1999 5:17 AM Subject: More than one Surname researcher Hello everyone, I am new to this list and wanted to post a question I have not seen addressed regarding copyright. If an individual has copyright to a book on a particular family, does that forbid anyone else from that family doing research independently and then posting on their own web site? I understand you cannot "lift" another's hard work, but I was essentially told by this individual researching the same family "You have a family you can not do anything with. The copyrights are good for 75 years." I have compiled my work through many sources, have visited libraries, went to cemetaries, looked at bibles, etc. In addition, there is another person who has the same exact info on their website with regard as our families are related. I would appreciate your thoughts! Heide