> > > Can I add a photo that I found on a different website? > > No. Please do not add photos to Find A Grave that you have acquired from > another source. Photos fall under copyright protection laws. In general, if > you did not take the photo yourself, you should not post it. The only > exceptions to this are photos that are old enough to have fallen into the > public domain and photos for which you have received written consent from > the copyright holder. > > Mike St. Clair An interesting discussion. When you mention Cemetery photos, are we talking about photos of a cemetery? or the individual tombstone photos? While not a lawyer, I think a case could be made that individual photos of tombstones taken for the purpose of displaying the FACTS on a stone may not be subject to copyright. A written listing of the cemetery is likely not subject to copyright, if just a compilation of facts. The purpose of tombstone photos is for determining the FACTS thereon. Why would it fall under protection of copyright laws? Another view of the question. IF the same photo were used to document the work of a tombstone carver, the picture may enjoy copyright protection.?? Joe Patterson PAGenWeb

I have approximately 3,500 photos of relative's gravestones that I personally took over thirteen years of research in numerous states. Many of them are multiple shots of the same gravestone which were taken in order to get that one good shot. Many times I waited a few hours for the sun to get just right; other times I used a mirror. They have meaning to me for much more than just the information presented in the inscription and I have gone to a good deal of expense and effort to get them. Copyrighted? You bet! That doesn't stop folks from grabbing a copy from my web site and posting it another web site even with a copyright stamp right on it -- go figure! An interesting Find A Grave experience that I had is this ... After using a BYU database to research people buried in a state hospital cemetery I had posted their info on a private web page. In time someone notified me that he had taken my research and posted it in an apparently more suitable location -- Find A Grave. I deleted my web page. Mitch Ryder -----Original Message----- From: joe <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, Dec 29, 2009 1:31 pm Subject: Re: [STATE-COORD] Your Guidance is Requested - Cemetery Photos > > > Can I add a photo that I found on a different website? > > No. Please do not add photos to Find A Grave that you have acquired from > another source. Photos fall under copyright protection laws. In general, if > you did not take the photo yourself, you should not post it. The only > exceptions to this are photos that are old enough to have fallen into the > public domain and photos for which you have received written consent from > the copyright holder. > > Mike St. Clair An interesting discussion. When you mention Cemetery photos, are we talking about photos of a cemetery? or the individual tombstone photos? While not a lawyer, I think a case could be made that individual photos of tombstones taken for the purpose of displaying the FACTS on a stone may not be subject to copyright. A written listing of the cemetery is likely not subject to copyright, if just a compilation of facts. The purpose of tombstone photos is for determining the FACTS thereon. Why would it fall under protection of copyright laws? Another view of the question. IF the same photo were used to document the work of a tombstone carver, the picture may enjoy copyright protection.?? Joe Patterson PAGenWeb ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message