Joan, I have found myself in a similar situation. For me, it wasn't so much that I didn't want my emails posted with the family information (since they relate the level of surety of the information I had), but that the person did not ask permission to post the emails. My emails did give some personal information as well. I'm glad that at least the person removed my email address from the exchange, though some personal information remains (such as the town I live in, as well as where I work and what I do). I decided not to pursue, since there were only 2 emails quoted, and the personal information relatively mild. (I am not sure, but he may well have removed the content of the emails, had I asked) The fact that I work where I do is also available through the website of my employer. I believe from what I know of copyright law, it would be difficult to litigate and win such a claim. It would also be expensive and time consuming. I wonder if there isn't some kind of privacy law that the person is violating. In a copyright claim, the person could probably cite fair use, since most of what he's probably using is factual, and I assume he is not making money from the use. "His response was that, unless I give him permission to use the data contained in my e-mails, that he HAS to keep them posted in order to publish the information they contain while preserving MY copyright?!!!" That is an obviously ridiculous statement by him. If you do not give permission, he shouldn't be able to post it. I don't understand what he is saying with this statement, but it sounds like he is trying to rationalize his use of your emails. I've met with this attitude before, and I'm not sure why, but some people seem to think that there is nothing ethically wrong with reposting people's personal emails. I find this utterly incomprehensible, but it exists and I've come up against it. I for one would never post another's email without specific permission. The only thing I might do, is post, as a citation to specific information, the fact that I received an email from that person, but not the content of the email (unless I received permission) James