If you are serious about protecting your research/work from anyone/businesses you can do it SOMEWHAT by simple writing on it: Copyright 2001 Jane Doe You could even post this automatically with an email signature, if you wanted. This will scare off many businesses, at the least. You do NOT have to get permission or take further steps to formally get the work copyrighted. At least, this is the law as I understand it. Since I am not charging any of you for this legal advise, you can see that you are getting exactly what you are paying for. <g> I belong to a legal services plan that allows me to ask a good law firm an unlimited number of questions by phone during regular business hours. One of those monthly payment plans. Maybe I'll ask them this question after my vacation. Personally, I gladly allow anyone foolish enough to use my research to do so as they will. LOL Perry McCrary ----- Original Message ----- From: Grace Lee Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2001 1:30 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [SCPICKENS] Thoughts on the changes fr. Rootsweb Delores, I'm not a lawyer either. I never even had one law course except real estate. But as a news director, writer, deliverer of news for years on our Radio Station I have sat in Court and listened to many, many lawyers. I have also served on every type jury including Grand Jury and Federal Jury. I think you could argue this point as well as any liscensed attorney. And....this is something I think you are correct about. Grace Lee [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "DMPringle" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2001 1:18 PM Subject: [SCPICKENS] Thoughts on the changes fr. Rootsweb > I've been offline for a while due to a failed modem, but after reading > through 1400+ emails, it has occurred to me that I never personally signed > my name to or gave any permission for anything I ever posted to become the > property of anyone else. I know that it's stealing if you take my car, and > I didn't give you permission, no matter the fine print you wrote. Folks, my > genealogy work is many years in the making and means much more to me than > any fine car on the road! > I know all about that "fine print" stuff, but I just would be willing to > believe that any court would rule genealogy research would be considered > part of the right to privacy, and also, freedom of speech dictates. AND > that the research belongs to the researcher, which means US and not > Rootsweb. No one ever posted work there with the purpose of publishing or > giving it to anyone, but to find assistance with his/her research. > I'm certainly not a lawyer, but I've had a few law courses, and it seems to > me that they are the ones with infringement problems. Am I off the beam > with this...just in fantasyland, or what? > Not that I intend to even think about a court battle, but someone out there > may just lob a class action suit at them and give them pause for some > serious thinking on their part! > Besides that, I mostly only posted years ago, and I hope it was all wrong!!! > Wouldn't that be delightful??? That's a lovely thought right now anyway! I > know this is off-topic, but all these other responses have made me think > about this, and I think that our property is being stolen and "fine print" > or not, they are the pilferers!!! > I do hope they will reconsider and rectify this situation; it is shameful on > their part. > Godspeed to all, and thanks for being such enjoyable folks to "be around." > Dolores M. Pringle > > > ==== SCPICKEN Mailing List ==== > If you wish to subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Pickens Co, SC list, use > [email protected] > To learn more about my world visit http://dwp.bigplanet.com/kburnett > > ==== SCPICKEN Mailing List ==== NOTICE: Posting of virus warnings, test messages, chain letters, political announcements, current events, items for sale, personal messages, flames, etc. (in other words - spam) is NOT ALLOWED and will be grounds for removal. Consideration for exceptions, contact Kathleen Burnett [email protected] To learn more about my world visit http://dwp.bigplanet.com/kburnettGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com