Hi Billy, I seem to believe that Rootsweb's policy is you own your stuff (ie I own this post!) which is one way to avoid being sued for character defamation by irate UK citizens (harder to sue in the USA <grin>) or for breaking copyright laws. I'll check Ancestry. that's a good point, though. THough, according to my thick genealogy bible here, the only parts of one's published genealogy that is copywritable is any analysis you do. The stuff we scraped off of anonymous websites (where space aliens posted it as a joke) and extract from birth certificates, wills, will abstracts, bibles, etc -- that stuff cannot be copyrighted. Linda Merle ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "William Stranney" <billy.stranney@btinternet.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 21:14:11 -0000 >Linda, > >Before you upload your family tree to Genes Reunited, make sure you read >their small print. A few weeks ago on one of my lists (I can't remember >which - it might have been the Guild of One Name Studies - GOONS), anyway, >there was a spate of emails discussing and expressing concern about the >issue as to who owns the data you upload to their site. From what Genes >Reunited say on their website (in their small print section - the rules >etc.), it seems clear they feel they own any data you upload and can do what >they wish with it. I use the site and am a paid up member, but I have only >uploaded a partial family tree. > >It is possible that this is the case with many other similar websites too >and that it is unfair to only highlight Genes Reunited. > > >Billy. > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Linda Merle" <merle@mail.fea.net> >To: <Scotch-Irish-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 7:35 PM >Subject: [Sc-Ir] A free on line resource > > >> >> Hi folks, I get these reminder emails from various places I've forgotten >about (so I apparently need these reminders). Today I got one from Genes >Reunited, a UK/Ireland Aussie genealogy website. They want you to upgrade to >their paid version of course. I haven't yet, but I did a free search and >found a number of people looking for family in my dad's area of England. I'm >definitely uploading my tree. Might work for some of the rest of you too! >> >> Linda Merle >> ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- >> From: Genes Reunited <noreply@genesreunited.co.uk> >> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2006 03:09:41 -0000 >> >> Hello Linda, >> >> Today's site statistics: >> 54,862,502 relations on Genes Reunited >> >> http://www.genesreunited.com.au >> >> This email is being sent to you because you have chosen the option in Your >Details. To unsubscribe to this option, visit www.genesreunited.com and >change your options in Your Details. >> >> If you have any questions please visit our FAQ section >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________________________________________ >> Sent via the WebMail system at mail.fea.net >> >> >> >> >> >> > > ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.fea.net

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