Elane, As a publisher, I can tell you that any piece of writing would be covered. Of course if it is over 100 years old it is in the public domain and you can use it freely. Garry Myers Columbus, Ohio Re: Does anyone know if obituaries are covered by copyright law? The papers are under copyright, and many see this as including the obits. To protect yourself, it may be wise to obtain permission from each paper whose obits you plan to use. Different papers have different requirements as do the web providers on whose space the obits would be posted. There is a copyright discussion list at RootsWeb which might help you sort it out. Elaine

Covered, yes, but prudent or not, some papers do not care if obits are reproduced. In some cases, the family member who wrote the obit retains the copyright. All the more reason to obtain permission. And while the composition itself is under copyright, the facts available to the public (such as those on a death certificate) are not. It is not a simple issue. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25�