My point with Rule of Thumb #2 was that posting on the Internet or on a mailing list is a form of publication, so if something is under copyright, posting it there would or could be a violation of that copyright. Sandy Redmond writes: > Hi - > You cannot "recopywright" something by posting on a website or mailing > list. Just because you reprint it does not give you copyright, unless I'm > mis-interpreting your second point. My local gene. society reprinted the > county history, even adding a every name index. This did not make us the > copyright holder of the new edition, because it was simply a copy of the > first publication (which was in public domain). > Respectfully, > Sandy > > Amy Johnson Crow wrote: > >> Natalie is right -- the stellar-one site has an excellent explanation of >> copyright laws. >> >> Two rules of thumb to remember: >> 1. If it was published before 1923, it is in the public domain (meaning >> there is no copyright on it). >> 2. Posting on a website or on a mailing list (such as this one) *is* a >> form of publishing. >> >> Amy >> >> >> Natalie Yavornitzky wrote: >> >>> There is always a wide variety of opinion and understanding about >>> copyright >>> laws. I have found this website to be informative >>> http://stellar-one.com/copyrightgenealogy/ . But, I can say that if an >>> article or creative work is still under copyright, then it doesn't >>> matter if >>> it was republished for free or for profit ... the copyright holder could >>> lower the gavel. So, just be informed and wary. I think that stellar-one >>> site is good for keeping genealogists informed. I hope it is helpful. >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Natalie Yavornitzky >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Jan Tremain [mailto:jtremain@chillicotheohio.com] Sent: Wednesday, >>> January 26, 2005 2:09 PM >>> To: OHVINTON-L@rootsweb.com >>> Subject: RE: [OHVINTON-L] Obits and copyrights >>> >>> Only if they were reprinted for profit. >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Marvalene [mailto:marvalene@columbus.rr.com] >>> Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 4:03 PM >>> To: OHVINTON-L@rootsweb.com >>> Subject: [OHVINTON-L] Obits and copyrights >>> >>> Would there be a copyright infringement if the obit was in a newspaper >>> that >>> was available to the public? >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >