I will write a quick reply and statement, and then move on. About 6 years ago before I designed and built The Allen County Cemetery Website, I contacted the Allen County Genealogy Society asking for permission to web publish (post) information from their Cemetery Books.. At that time there was no Copyright listed within the books, and I felt this was a common courtesy thing to do.. I got a return e-mail from the President (at that time) of the Society stating that there was no problem with doing so... A week ago, of course after I posted that I was starting to update my site with additional information, the present President e-mails me stating Copyright issues with me posting such information.. There is now a statement on their website, stating that both present and past books fall under this Copyright material law.. I might add it is dated 1-20-2007.. I do understand they are selling these books online to make money for the Society, so I have agreed to remove all of my posted information from the website. I imagine RootsWeb will completely remove the site soon. Thanks to everyone for visiting the website, and good luck with your searches. Oh yeah - Please continue supporting your local Genealogy Societies.. Mark ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norita Moss" <mossnb1@earthlink.net> To: <ohallen@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 2:08 PM Subject: Re: [OHALLEN] Allen County Cemetery Webpage Updates > > I have just went to Mark's site and found he is not doing anymore work on > his great cemetery page. Please tell me this is a mistake Mark!!!! This is > one of the few places where I can confirm Allen County family. If it is > true than may I thank you for all of us who have enjoyed the info you have > provided us all these years. Thanks for all the hard work. > > Norita Shepherd Moss > Homosassa, FL > mossnb1@earthlink.net > Find out what God would have you do, > And do that little well; > For what is great and what is small > The Lord alone can tell.___Anon > > > EarthLink Revolves Around You. > > >> [Original Message] >> From: Mark Gierhart <markg@watchtv.net> >> T >> Date: 1/20/2007 10:46:24 PM >> Subject: [OHALLEN] Allen County Cemetery Webpage Updates >> >> I have just finished adding the following Downloadable Spreadsheets to my > Cemetery Webpage: >> >> http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohalncem/cemetery.html >> >> Richland Twsp. - Old Swiss/Old Mennonite Cemetery >> >> Spencer Twsp. - West Union Cemetery >> >> I hope to have finish the very large Spencerville Cemetery and then start > on Amanda Twsp... >> >> I am also adding spreadsheets to all of the already posted cemeteries. > This will give you >> something that can be printed out on your home printer. >> >> I'll keep everyone posted. >> >> Mark Gierhart >> >> Visit the Allen County OHGenWeb site. >> http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohallen/ >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > OHALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > > Visit the Allen County OHGenWeb site. > http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohallen/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > OHALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >
Mark, Thank you for your hard work. You literally saved me many hours of time as I have researched several Allen Co. families for clients. Knowing which cemeteries I needed to visit for tombstone photography before I arrived in Ohio was wonderful and it gave me the extra time to spend exploring other resources. Yolanda Yolanda Campbell Lifter Malabar, FL member, Association of Professional Genealogists http://apgen.org Ohio Family Research http://ohiofamilyresearch.com OH Genealogy http://ohgenealogy.com county coordinator, Brown County, OHGenWeb http://ohgenealogy.com/brownco county coordinator, Pike County, OHGenWeb http://ohgenealogy.com/pikeco county coordinator, New Castle County, DEGenWeb http://ohgenealogy.com/newcastleco ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Gierhart" <markg@watchtv.net> To: <mossnb1@earthlink.net>; <ohallen@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 5:27 PM Subject: Re: [OHALLEN] Allen County Cemetery Webpage Updates >I will write a quick reply and statement, and then move on. > > About 6 years ago before I designed and built The Allen County > Cemetery Website, I contacted the Allen County Genealogy Society > asking for permission to web publish (post) information from their > Cemetery > Books.. At that time there was no Copyright listed within the books, and > I felt this was a common courtesy thing to do.. I got a return e-mail from > the President (at that time) of the Society stating that there was no > problem > with doing so... > > A week ago, of course after I posted that I was starting to update my site > with additional information, the present President e-mails me stating > Copyright > issues with me posting such information.. There is now a statement on > their > website, stating that both present and past books fall under this > Copyright > material law.. I might add it is dated 1-20-2007.. > > I do understand they are selling these books online to make money for the > Society, so I have agreed to remove all of my posted information from > the website. I imagine RootsWeb will completely remove the site soon. > > Thanks to everyone for visiting the website, and good luck with your > searches. > > Oh yeah - Please continue supporting your local Genealogy Societies.. > > Mark >
Mark, I thank you for your exemplary website that has served us so well for these past years, and cannot imagine how devastating this must be to you. I am shocked to hear that copyright laws apply to material that can be found in public documents (death certificates) or is free to the community if they call the cemetery. I had been under the impression this was not able to be copyrighted. Your website has saved many of us countless hours trying to determine which cemetery many of our ancestors were buried in. I want you to know I very much appreciate the information you have shared with us. Sue Roach Ocala, FL -----Original Message----- From: ohallen-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ohallen-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Mark Gierhart Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 5:27 PM To: mossnb1@earthlink.net; ohallen@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OHALLEN] Allen County Cemetery Webpage Updates I will write a quick reply and statement, and then move on. About 6 years ago before I designed and built The Allen County Cemetery Website, I contacted the Allen County Genealogy Society asking for permission to web publish (post) information from their Cemetery Books.. At that time there was no Copyright listed within the books, and I felt this was a common courtesy thing to do.. I got a return e-mail from the President (at that time) of the Society stating that there was no problem with doing so... A week ago, of course after I posted that I was starting to update my site with additional information, the present President e-mails me stating Copyright issues with me posting such information.. There is now a statement on their website, stating that both present and past books fall under this Copyright material law.. I might add it is dated 1-20-2007.. I do understand they are selling these books online to make money for the Society, so I have agreed to remove all of my posted information from the website. I imagine RootsWeb will completely remove the site soon. Thanks to everyone for visiting the website, and good luck with your searches. Oh yeah - Please continue supporting your local Genealogy Societies.. Mark ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norita Moss" <mossnb1@earthlink.net> To: <ohallen@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 2:08 PM Subject: Re: [OHALLEN] Allen County Cemetery Webpage Updates > > I have just went to Mark's site and found he is not doing anymore work on > his great cemetery page. Please tell me this is a mistake Mark!!!! This is > one of the few places where I can confirm Allen County family. If it is > true than may I thank you for all of us who have enjoyed the info you have > provided us all these years. Thanks for all the hard work. > > Norita Shepherd Moss > Homosassa, FL > mossnb1@earthlink.net > Find out what God would have you do, > And do that little well; > For what is great and what is small > The Lord alone can tell.___Anon > > > EarthLink Revolves Around You. > > >> [Original Message] >> From: Mark Gierhart <markg@watchtv.net> >> T >> Date: 1/20/2007 10:46:24 PM >> Subject: [OHALLEN] Allen County Cemetery Webpage Updates >> >> I have just finished adding the following Downloadable Spreadsheets to my > Cemetery Webpage: >> >> http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohalncem/cemetery.html >> >> Richland Twsp. - Old Swiss/Old Mennonite Cemetery >> >> Spencer Twsp. - West Union Cemetery >> >> I hope to have finish the very large Spencerville Cemetery and then start > on Amanda Twsp... >> >> I am also adding spreadsheets to all of the already posted cemeteries. > This will give you >> something that can be printed out on your home printer. >> >> I'll keep everyone posted. >> >> Mark Gierhart >> >> Visit the Allen County OHGenWeb site. >> http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohallen/ >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > OHALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > > Visit the Allen County OHGenWeb site. > http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohallen/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > OHALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > Visit the Allen County OHGenWeb site. http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohallen/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to OHALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
Mark, I think you should keep your website because you have info on the cemeteries that we have not published and the locations and pictures. I think that what you do is a great service for people and I refer people to your website frequently. It would be a shame to take it down. I see no reason why there is not "room" for both. There are many cemeteries in Allen County that we have not read and published yet. There are the old readings in notebooks at the museum library that are not copyrighted. You could use these for listings on your website. That way, those that are not available in published books would be out there for people who need the information. We're all doing the same thing (genealogy). I hope that we can all work together to accomplish the goals of getting the information to the public. I would encourage you to keep your website but continue as you have in the past doing listings for the other cemeteries that are not readily available. Debbie Carder Mayes, Vice-president, Allen County Genealogy Society http://allencogenealogysociety.homestead.com/Main.html www.tribalpages.com/tribes/deb6102 www.tribalpages.com/tribes/dac6102 www.rootsweb.com/~ohallen/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Gierhart" <markg@watchtv.net> To: <mossnb1@earthlink.net>; <ohallen@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 5:27 PM Subject: Re: [OHALLEN] Allen County Cemetery Webpage Updates >I will write a quick reply and statement, and then move on. > > About 6 years ago before I designed and built The Allen County > Cemetery Website, I contacted the Allen County Genealogy Society > asking for permission to web publish (post) information from their > Cemetery > Books.. At that time there was no Copyright listed within the books, and > I felt this was a common courtesy thing to do.. I got a return e-mail from > the President (at that time) of the Society stating that there was no > problem > with doing so... > > A week ago, of course after I posted that I was starting to update my site > with additional information, the present President e-mails me stating > Copyright > issues with me posting such information.. There is now a statement on > their > website, stating that both present and past books fall under this > Copyright > material law.. I might add it is dated 1-20-2007.. > > I do understand they are selling these books online to make money for the > Society, so I have agreed to remove all of my posted information from > the website. I imagine RootsWeb will completely remove the site soon. > > Thanks to everyone for visiting the website, and good luck with your > searches. > > Oh yeah - Please continue supporting your local Genealogy Societies.. > > Mark > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Norita Moss" <mossnb1@earthlink.net> > To: <ohallen@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 2:08 PM > Subject: Re: [OHALLEN] Allen County Cemetery Webpage Updates > > >> >> I have just went to Mark's site and found he is not doing anymore work on >> his great cemetery page. Please tell me this is a mistake Mark!!!! This >> is >> one of the few places where I can confirm Allen County family. If it is >> true than may I thank you for all of us who have enjoyed the info you >> have >> provided us all these years. Thanks for all the hard work. >> >> Norita Shepherd Moss >> Homosassa, FL >> mossnb1@earthlink.net >> Find out what God would have you do, >> And do that little well; >> For what is great and what is small >> The Lord alone can tell.___Anon >> >> >> EarthLink Revolves Around You. >> >> >>> [Original Message] >>> From: Mark Gierhart <markg@watchtv.net> >>> T >>> Date: 1/20/2007 10:46:24 PM >>> Subject: [OHALLEN] Allen County Cemetery Webpage Updates >>> >>> I have just finished adding the following Downloadable Spreadsheets to >>> my >> Cemetery Webpage: >>> >>> http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohalncem/cemetery.html >>> >>> Richland Twsp. - Old Swiss/Old Mennonite Cemetery >>> >>> Spencer Twsp. - West Union Cemetery >>> >>> I hope to have finish the very large Spencerville Cemetery and then >>> start >> on Amanda Twsp... >>> >>> I am also adding spreadsheets to all of the already posted cemeteries. >> This will give you >>> something that can be printed out on your home printer. >>> >>> I'll keep everyone posted. >>> >>> Mark Gierhart >>> >>> Visit the Allen County OHGenWeb site. >>> http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohallen/ >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> OHALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> Visit the Allen County OHGenWeb site. >> http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohallen/ >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> OHALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> > > Visit the Allen County OHGenWeb site. > http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohallen/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > OHALLEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message
Debbie, First, I do want to state that you are correct, the Society did not ask me to remove my website. However, since my website is 70% made up from materials which are now ACGS copyrighted, I see no reason to continue. Also you mentioned for me to use information that is not yet published by the Society.. To me this means, next month, if the material(s) are published, I'd again be using what will become Copyrighted material.. No way to win on this one! When I first started , toward making site, I spent hours and hours looking up materials, for free, at the Historical Museum... Researchers would e-mail me their requests, I'd visit the Museum, hand writing into my tablets the cemetery information, then e-mail the researcher back... After months of accumultating this researched data, I decided to post the information on a website for others to view.. It cut down on a lot of duplicate e-mail requests. As I'm sure you know, hand writing pages of published material is very time consuming.. Several months later the Society starting compiling the cemetery notebooks and published several (3 at that time) cemetery books.. It was at this time I requested and was granted permission to use this books to continue my website posting.. I had a Hand Scanner and was able to scan each page, and with OCR software post directly to a Web Page, cutting my posting time greatly.. This whole project was designed to help "out of towners"; those that are not able to visit Allen County to do their own research. I have never received any type of payment, and had even purchased the books that I used for posting of material. The material that was posted on the website, like the copyrighted books, came from a variey of sources; from stone inscriptions I took, from other researchers (correcting the errors they have found) , newspaper obits etc... So for me to "weed through" the posted information on the Web Site and remove ACGS copyrighted material would be very time consuming if not impossible.. Hence - removal of website... And Mr. Brogee's E-mail to me containing the name of his Attorney was a bit much.... Mark
Mark: Would you be willing to accept contributions of information from those of us researching our families in Allen County, and use that information on your site? I have information on burials (as well as pictures of headstones) that I would be willing to submit. It certainly wouldn't be as complete as your site was, but it would still be a way for some of the information to be available (especially those of us who do not live in and around Allen County). Thank you for the work you put into the site. It was a tremendous help to me when I first started my research. Diane Mancini