Hi Adrian, You do own your opinion below ... (still!), at least on Rootsweb!! However we should probably stop this thread as it is off topic and no doubt boring a lot of people. For myself, when a copyright issue comes up, I consult the experts. I do not ask for opinions on a list except for maybe Freelawyers-l!!! (Where IS that list??). Luckily my customer is a lawyer so we have been able to figure out what WE are doing without spending money. Linda Merle ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: maggie and adrian <tuathadedaan@xtra.co.nz> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2006 16:48:18 +1300 >Hi Linda and others, > >I understand that a fact cannot be copyrighted. That is, "John Doe was >born in England on 21 January 1878". But if that fact is embellished >with additional information collected from another source such as one's >own research, then copyright may become an issue. For example if one was >to follow on from that statement of fact with a statement such as - "I >had the pleasure of meeting John just before his passing and have >recorded the following story of his exploits during the Boer War" ---- >then that research is copyrighted and deemed to be yours. But similarly >the fact of his passing away on 6 June 1953 and was buried 3 day's later >is a fact, cannot be copyright notwithstanding you may have spent the >weeks grocery money establishing that fact. And, if for example his >death required a coronial hearing and you write up the details, rather >than merely ad-lib them and perhaps record your own opinion, you own the >copyright. That is the situation as I understand it to be ( and I guess >I own the copyright for writing this opinion !) > >Best to all, >Adrian Verry > > >-- >No virus found in this outgoing message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.3/254 - Release Date: 8/02/2006 > > ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.fea.net