Joan, The are abstracts of deeds, court orders, etc. I wouldn't want to avoid using the exact wording since I don't have the email anymore? Debbie Debbie- What are they abstracts of? Abstracts of public documents (wills, deeds)--if they only include facts--can't be copyrighted. Facts can't be copyrighted. Granted the author did work to abstract public records but if all that is left is names, dates, and places (the genealogical data from the public documents) -- those facts can't be copyrighted and you would be free to use them as you wish. Quote the book/author as your source. The collection of abstracts as a collection may well be still under copyright--but the facts contained therein cannot be. Joan ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour