Dear Dave, It is beyond my understanding why you publish your information on the internet if you are so concerned about the possibility of someone else using that information. I thought the purpose of the Internet was to share information. I also have looked through a lot of family trees on the internet. What information I do find is always checked and rechecked before I add it to my own. I'm not interested in having the largest database, or the biggest list of names. I just want to feel comfortable that the information I add is as accurate as possible. I always assumed that anyone who published on the web, wanted to see their information put into other family files. My sources always show where the information came from. I have a hard time with your theory that in time everyone will end up with the same file. I know I don't use everything I find. Far from it. I have used very little of it. The surnames on my list are but a small fraction of the total. If you don't your information used , then don't put it on the internet. Kat Steward