If I could just butt in here, I would like to come to the defense of the person requesting information from the Patrick County Heritage Book. My understanding of copyright law is that what she requested, quoted as follows "I am not asking for a "look up" or any special attention what so ever, but just that as you read, you just might let that name stick in your head and pass on tidbits you may come across." falls under the heading of "fair use." Fair use permits brief excerpts from a large copyrighted work to be legally shared for research purposes. Obviously there are gray areas that only a court could resolve, and clearly it is illegal to copy large portions of another work without permission. Also to avoid plagiarism the source of information should be cited. Genealogy, as well as scholarly activity, would be impossible if one could never use information from copyrighted materials. Charles Leon Harris

Let me be the one to put this story to rest. I actually AGREE that I may have been in the wrong for asking in the way I did and don't want to see this matter turn into an unpleasant discussion on either list. I'm ready to abide by the rules (and the law, for that matter) Let's just all keep on being "family" and let this one pass now! We've got LOTS more fun topics to discuss! love and ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))) to all, MizzKat ----- Original Message ----- From: <Cleonharris@aol.com> To: <VAPATRIC-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 8:54 PM Subject: Re: [VAPATRICK] Re: [VAFLOYD] Patrick Co. heritage book If I could just butt in here, I would like to come to the defense of the person requesting information from the Patrick County Heritage Book. My understanding of copyright law is that what she requested, quoted as follows "I am not asking for a "look up" or any special attention what so ever, but just that as you read, you just might let that name stick in your head and pass on tidbits you may come across." falls under the heading of "fair use." Fair use permits brief excerpts from a large copyrighted work to be legally shared for research purposes. Obviously there are gray areas that only a court could resolve, and clearly it is illegal to copy large portions of another work without permission. Also to avoid plagiarism the source of information should be cited. Genealogy, as well as scholarly activity, would be impossible if one could never use information from copyrighted materials. Charles Leon Harris ==== VAPATRIC Mailing List ==== Patrick Co., Va. Genealogy (VaGenWeb) http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapatric/ -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.7.0/345 - Release Date: 5/22/06 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.7.0/345 - Release Date: 5/22/06

Wow! It is noble to want to put this "to rest", but let's examine what is going on. The Patrick Co., VA Heritage Book Committee devoted 24 months of their lives to this project. A labor of love! Days and many nights. If folk cannot understand that, we are truly sorry! Further, if folk cannot afford to buy a copy...we are also sorry! We can tell you that (based on 28 years in this business) those who have purchased books are the better for it! Many of our 1978-1990 Heritage books (first editions) are selling for $200. to $250. Let's tip our hats to Ms. Alpha and her fine crew! ...and if you are truly interested in the book, buy one. By the way, watch for details about the reprinting of Patrick County, VA Vol. One! Don Mills, Pres. County Heritage, Inc. --- Fulcher <fulcher@gdsys.net> wrote: Let me be the one to put this story to rest. I actually AGREE that I may have been in the wrong for asking in the way I did and don't want to see this matter turn into an unpleasant discussion on either list. I'm ready to abide by the rules (and the law, for that matter) Let's just all keep on being "family" and let this one pass now! We've got LOTS more fun topics to discuss! love and ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))) to all, MizzKat > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <Cleonharris@aol.com> > To: <VAPATRIC-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 8:54 PM > Subject: Re: [VAPATRICK] Re: [VAFLOYD] Patrick Co. > heritage book > > > > If I could just butt in here, I would like to come > to the defense of the > person requesting information from the Patrick > County Heritage Book. My > understanding of copyright law is that what she > requested, quoted as follows > > "I am not asking for a "look up" or any special > attention what so ever, but > just that as you read, you just might let that name > stick in your head and > pass on tidbits you may come across." > falls under the heading of "fair use." Fair use > permits brief excerpts from > a large copyrighted work to be legally shared for > research purposes. > Obviously there are gray areas that only a court > could resolve, and clearly it > is illegal to copy large portions of another work > without permission. Also to > avoid plagiarism the source of information should be > cited. Genealogy, as well as > scholarly activity, would be impossible if one > could never use information > from copyrighted materials. > > Charles Leon Harris