In a message dated 3/18/04 8:42:09 PM US Mountain Standard Time, cliff.hayes@earthlink.net writes: Can you imagine someone suing you for taking your great grandma's birthdate out of their database; then having you come back with the fact that you got it from someone else's database, not theirs? I appreciate this new information-- and I do plan to read the bill. Just wanted to allay some fears, I hope, that the copyright law for writers has always maintained a practice of what is called "fair use." You give credit to the original author in your manuscript (now "database" it seems) and you are allowed to quote or use a limited portion of their information. I rather assume it will be much the same with the new database law. Many thanks for bringing this up, Cliff; I'm a writer and this is the first I have heard of this proposed law. Something, certainly, has been direly needed for copyrighting a database that is online. My concern is that the Internet is so open and "freeforall" that many people are already used to borrowing huge amounts of information for their own websites. The cat, I am concerned, is already let out of the bag... Whenever I write a piece online, it's with the full expectation that "I will be robbed." I save my serious writing for books and magazine articles. Kathleen

Kathleen ~ You are so right. I, being a somewhat trusting person, shared a huge portion of my database (abt 1,000), to a cousin I found I was remotely related to. This person knew I was planning on publishing a book with the material I shared with them, as I emphasized that fact with them....I later found, they apparently didn't care. I guess I wasn't moving fast enough for them .. They did however promise me it would be used for their own personal use and research..and it wasn't. The next thing I realized, I was browsing through Ancestry.com. one day and here was my data plastered all over on their data base at World Connect. I was livid.. The owner of the data base did mention my name, but barely. The real point is...if I would have wanted it plastered all over the Internet, I could have done it myself. I felt it was my choice whether or not I would submit it to a Genealogy site some day for others, not theirs.. Now the damage is done, it's all out there and my book is not published yet. Or as you say Kathleen, the Cat is out of the bag... Live and learn....that is what I get for trusting someone. I have now learned why many others refuse to part with the research they have worked so hard on.. Some people have no scruples, and will plagiarize, copy, and steal everything they can get their hands on and enter the work as their own.. Just to get a little recognition. Sort of sad isn't it? I have actually decided to give up Genealogy as hobby, I am tired of other's taking data I have cheerfully supplied them with, all the while thinking I am helping them, and then, having people in turn, using it as their own and posting it everywhere as their own research. It's one thing, if a person asks, but when you do not have another's permission, it is plainly stealing. Even if it is a collection of vital records as you(yourself) compiled those records to a database and made added notes, stories, and facts...not the person stealing it. It's nothing more than robbery to me. I am aware vital records aren't copyrighted, but a Researcher has taken years to compile these dates, enter them carefully for each person to her or his database, and doesn't appreciate other's using the data in what ever manner they please or submitting to whomever they please... I know this is a touchy subject with people out there, but if people would just communicate with others, and just politely ask another Researcher before you copy their work or use their notes. Most Researchers do not mind. But if they see it plastered all over the Internet, without a person so much as asking, they might. Definitely include their source material and the Compiler's name as the author. If a person prefers you not use their data in that manner, then one should respect their wishes. Many times, they are planning to write a book, like I was, and still am. I didn't want the material posted before I had the entire line more thoroughly researched, proven and published. Thanks for letting me sound off. Penny. ----- Original Message ----- From: <LPurch6636@aol.com> To: <NYOTSEGO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 10:02 PM Subject: Re: [NYOTSEGO] The facts of the new copyright bill. > In a message dated 3/18/04 8:42:09 PM US Mountain Standard Time, > cliff.hayes@earthlink.net writes: > Can you imagine someone suing you for taking your great grandma's birthdate > out of their database; then having you come back with the fact that you got it > from someone else's database, not theirs? > > I appreciate this new information-- and I do plan to read the bill. Just > wanted to allay some fears, I hope, that the copyright law for writers has always > maintained a practice of what is called "fair use." You give credit to the > original author in your manuscript (now "database" it seems) and you are allowed > to quote or use a limited portion of their information. I rather assume it > will be much the same with the new database law. Many thanks for bringing this > up, Cliff; I'm a writer and this is the first I have heard of this proposed > law. Something, certainly, has been direly needed for copyrighting a database > that is online. My concern is that the Internet is so open and "freeforall" > that many people are already used to borrowing huge amounts of information for > their own websites. The cat, I am concerned, is already let out of the bag... > > Whenever I write a piece online, it's with the full expectation that "I will > be robbed." I save my serious writing for books and magazine articles. > > Kathleen > > > ==== NYOTSEGO Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from this list in digest mode send an email with > the word, unsubscribe,in the subject field & body of the message > to the following address: NYOtsego-d-request@rootsweb.com > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.627 / Virus Database: 402 - Release Date: 3/16/04