Valda _requisite disclaimer_ Let me say first that I am not a lawyer, nor is this professional advice for which I am held accountable. :) _end requisite disclaimer_ You certainly raise valid points, and true, the law is open to interpretation, but the important thing is fair use. If you use the information consistent with the law, then there _probably_ won't be any trouble. You may find that the publisher will suggest a violation of this part of the law: (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work when posting it publicly. When referencing something, it is important to note the source. This is good writing practice and also crucial genealogical practice. Many times, I have received information from someone from a particular source, and, recognizing the value of that source, purchased it for myself. If some kind soul hadn't done so, I may have never have known it existed let alone purchased it. So for the copyright owner - which is usually a publisher - it benefits them. For individuals posting their genealogical info online - such as you'll find on my site - it has to be remebered that it is now in the public sphere if not domain, and that someone may take your info verbatim. This is interesting as you'll find many posts to lists & newsgroups of complaints that such & such a company has taken their gedcom without permission, reprinted it on some cd or in a book, with the same exact INCORRECT information in it. So again, consider the sources - are they there. Are the lists monitored? Good question. You should think that EVERYTHING on the internet is monitored these days and that it is not only when YOU have taken the necessary steps to protect yourself. Thanks, John Ellingsworth http://ellingsworth.org/john/ http://ellingsworth.org/pubring.pkr ----- Original Message ----- From: <Valdafam@aol.com> To: <DEKENT-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 11:08 PM Subject: [DEKENT] Copyright > > > John, > > Sorry, decided not to respond... but then I hit the wrong key and off it > > went... I am very concerned that people could get in trouble... the law is > > open to interpretation. If Washington cannot quarantee that you are > > covered by the fair usage law, then who is going to stand by you? That was > > one of the reasons I was assigned to call the copyright office for the > > Archives. The books in question, for Kent County anyway, have only 2 > > volumes that can be copied the rest clearly state they can not be... Again > > the format of the book is what is coprighted not the information; > > therefore, if the information is abstractly written out probably... no > > problem, but if the gentleman types it word for word, its a violation. Are > > these lists monitored for that? > > Thanks for the link. > Sincerely, > > Valda Hoennicke, valdafam@aol.com > > > > > > > > ==== DEKENT Mailing List ==== > The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, > or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237