Sheelagh The definitive answer is given in the Terms and Conditions of 1837online, accessible via their Web Page: http://www.1837online.com/Trace2web/ I'm not a lawyer, but the restrictions in Para 4 of the Terms and Conditions precludes the use of the Material accessed from 1837online, other than for "personal family research". It is entirely up to 1837online to set their own restrictions and very important that FreeBMD is seen to be adhering to these restriction. As this query has been raised previously both on and off list, I have put a task on the system to add a Q & A to our Transcribers Knowledge Base (TKB) to cover the use of 1837online accessed Material. This will be based on Dave's previous responses. Allan Raymond -----Original Message----- From: Sheelagh <shee.hawkins@lineone.net> To: FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com <FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com> Date: 29 November 2003 11:50 Subject: submitting 1837 online data to freebmd >Once again the question of submitting work transcribed from the 1837 online >database to FreeBMD has raised its head on the London list. I replied >quoting from one of Daves previous correspondences on this, as follows:- If >FreeBMD were to put >> transcriptions from 1837online scans onto the site, they would be open to >> legal action (including personal liability for the four "owners" of the >> FreeBMD project). In consequence, they will remove any transcriptions that >> they become aware of that are taken from 1837online scans from the site. >> I'm sure none of us would want to do anything that might jeopardise the >> FreeBMD project, therefore I would beg you not to submit transcriptions >from >> 1837 online to the FreeBMD website. >A reply has just been posted to the list as follows :-The information on the >index pages from 1837.com, the microfiche at the FRC >and microfiche at dozens of other places is all the same. One cannot place >images of the pages obtained from 1837.com on web sites for others to use, >but the transcribed data is NOT subject to copyright. 1837.com cannot claim >ownership of facts. >If in doubt ask FreeBMD first, rather than assuming that Sheelagh writes >with any authority on this matter. > >Now I don't want to get into a slanging match with someone. I assume that I >am correct and that the situation with 1837 online has not changed, so could >Dave or one of the "management" give me an "official" quote so that I can >put the matter straight please. >Thanks >Sheelagh > > > > > >============================== >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 > >