Some of you are familiar with this story, but for those who aren't . . . Last week I was notified by a colleague in Australia, that in individual in UK had copied some of the website content of TheShipsList, and was selling it on eBay. My colleague had purchased one of those CDs, thinking it might be a *new* British record source, but quickly realized that TheShipsList was the source. There had been no attempt made by the thief to disguise the fact and even my 'editorial comments' and 'typos' were carefully reproduced. As all TSL website content is 100% free access, I was very distressed and wasn't sure what to do next. What I did do first was to search eBay for myself and found that there were actually six CDs with stolen content from TheShipsList website, being offered by three sellers. Four different record sets, as each of them offered a copy of one of the CDs . . . so are they stealing from each other too ? [family--tree] GENEALOGY: SHIPS PASSENGER LISTS TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA CD GENEALOGY: SHIPS PASSENGER LISTS FROM SCOTLAND CD <<--- Genealogy - Ship Wrecks of 1816, 1817 & 1818 [manic1bookworm] GENEALOGY: SHIPS PASSENGER LISTS FROM SCOTLAND <<-- GENEALOGY: MARRIAGES AT SEA [scotlandspeople] GENEALOGY: SHIPS PASSENGER LISTS FROM SCOTLAND <<-- I consulted other colleagues for advice, but also followed eBay's instructions to report such infringements. I am also in contact with the Trading Standards Enforcement Section in Carmarthenshire, Wales (as we know the supposed name / address of one of the thieves) and with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "National Ports Enforcement Team," which also takes such infringements very seriously. I am really delighted to tell you that within hours, eBay took decisive action. I received emails from California (3), emails from United Kingdom (5) and a telephone call from Utah (1) all within a 24 hour period, and all listings were subsequently removed. Those sellers, at least " family--tree " and " manic1bookworm " are still out there, and as my Australian colleague discovered, are both still selling other stolen material, so I ask each and every one of you to be vigilant as you work on your own research, but if you do encounter anything that seems a little too familiar being offered by another, please take the time to pass your observations on to the person you believe to be the owner of the Intellectual Property. Many many thanks to all who offered such valuable support Sue -- TheShipsList Website http://www.theshipslist.com/

Sue, I am very sorry this happened to you. You have worked very hard to provide the most up to date information to us and to answer our individual questions. Youe advice and guidance, especially in my case, has been extremely valuable. Art in New Hampshire Sue Swiggum wrote: > Some of you are familiar with this story, but for those who aren't . . > . Last week I was notified by a colleague in Australia, that in > individual in UK had copied some of the website content of > TheShipsList, and was selling it on eBay. My colleague had purchased > one of those CDs, thinking it might be a *new* British record source, > but quickly realized that TheShipsList was the source. There had been > no attempt made by the thief to disguise the fact and even my > 'editorial comments' and 'typos' were carefully reproduced. > > As all TSL website content is 100% free access, I was very distressed > and wasn't sure what to do next. What I did do first was to search > eBay for myself and found that there were actually six CDs with stolen > content from TheShipsList website, being offered by three sellers. > Four different record sets, as each of them offered a copy of one of > the CDs . . . so are they stealing from each other too ? > > [family--tree] > GENEALOGY: SHIPS PASSENGER LISTS TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA CD > GENEALOGY: SHIPS PASSENGER LISTS FROM SCOTLAND CD <<--- > Genealogy - Ship Wrecks of 1816, 1817 & 1818 > > [manic1bookworm] > GENEALOGY: SHIPS PASSENGER LISTS FROM SCOTLAND <<-- > GENEALOGY: MARRIAGES AT SEA > > [scotlandspeople] > GENEALOGY: SHIPS PASSENGER LISTS FROM SCOTLAND <<-- > > I consulted other colleagues for advice, but also followed eBay's > instructions to report such infringements. I am also in contact with > the Trading Standards Enforcement Section in Carmarthenshire, Wales > (as we know the supposed name / address of one of the thieves) and > with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "National Ports Enforcement > Team," which also takes such infringements very seriously. > > I am really delighted to tell you that within hours, eBay took > decisive action. I received emails from California (3), emails from > United Kingdom (5) and a telephone call from Utah (1) all within a 24 > hour period, and all listings were subsequently removed. > > Those sellers, at least " family--tree " and " manic1bookworm " are > still out there, and as my Australian colleague discovered, are both > still selling other stolen material, so I ask each and every one of > you to be vigilant as you work on your own research, but if you do > encounter anything that seems a little too familiar being offered by > another, please take the time to pass your observations on to the > person you believe to be the owner of the Intellectual Property. > > Many many thanks to all who offered such valuable support > > Sue