> > > And finally, I am always very wary about any organization/site > > > which Ancestry has its fingers in. > > > > > > [email protected] > > > > Bob- > > > <snip> > > > However, you will probably find that most other people researching > > the surname will be reluctant to "donate" their research data to > > another person for what could be their personal gain. One thing > > about a company like Ancestry/RootsWeb that attracts contributors > > and posters on their lists is that the data they post there doesn't > > belong to the list "administrator" or the company--the AUP assures > > us all of that. The data you post to a RootsWeb mailing list > > remains the property of the author/poster who is merely giving > > permission for the company to house and archive the data for future > > researchers to find. > > > > Joan <[email protected]> > > Under international copyright laws what you say is true of ANY list > so stop being stupid. > > Ye Old One <[email protected]> Copyright law is almost entirely irrelevant with respect to *who* has *what* rights with respect to content posted at most non-hobby sites. Almost all non-hobby sites have a "Terms of Service" or "Acceptable Use Policy" or some other agreement that binds them and their users. For example, GenForum has long been known to have one of the most user-unfriendly AUPs in the business. It includes little gems like: A. Subject to the Genealogy.com Privacy Policy, by inputting, uploading or posting any family tree information, data, family stories, ideas, drawings, opinions, messages, eyewitness accounts, or any other information or materials, or engaging in any other form of communication (each, a "Submission") through the Sites, you grant MyFamily.com, Inc. and its Affiliated Companies a royalty free, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, unrestricted, transferable, worldwide license to (i) use, copy, sublicense, adapt, transmit, distribute, publicly perform, archive, and display any such Submission in any medium now known or hereafter developed; (ii) exploit any proprietary rights in such Submission, including but not limited to rights under copyright, trademark, or patent laws in any relevant jurisdiction; and (iii) sublicense to third parties the unrestricted right to exercise any of the foregoing rights. Basically, by posting to GenForum you have given up all rights to your work other than exclusivity. So, circling all the way around, Joan did tell you something useful. You, of course, can craft whatever kind of AUP you want if you're operating the server. (: Cheers, B. -- Dr. Brian Leverich <[email protected]> Co-moderator, soc.genealogy.methods/GENMTD-L Co-founder, www.RootsWeb.com, the Net's largest genealogical community Co-founder, www.Linkpendium.com, the Net's largest genealogical directory Author of RootsWeb's original AUP