Paul,
Your timing for this subject is excellent. It's
unfortunate that the more people involved with genealogy
online, the more common it is to run into wannabe
genealogists who either find it necessary to cheat --I
suspect, don't know how to research-- are simply lazy, or
are so arrogant they assume anything published is theirs.
The best example I've run into lately of a "successful"
copy-copy-wannabe has to do with my Virginia Grandmother.
While checking out the website of a well-known genealogist,
I came across some familiar words:
"The following data is based in part on the genealogy notes
of my grandmother, Julia Humes Bilyeu. "
Yep, you guessed it. That's MY grandmother, and her only
other grandchildren are not into genealogy. It is
interesting that the webmaster of the site has a copyright
statement prominently displayed; one which does not include
the invitation for others to freely use the material for
family research that many of us include on our own pages.
What can I do about it? Laugh . . . and never again refer
anyone to that researcher.
Joanne
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Drake" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 8:23 AM
Subject: [VA-ROOTS] using others' materials
I have been asked many times generally about what writings
of others it is OK for you to use. The question is a
tedious one at best, however this site does an adequate job
of explaining, and any of you who are writing should read
it. My articles in Heritage Quest, in NGS Newsletter, and
the explanations in my books also will assist.
So, take a look at this, all the while remembering that
there are NO prohibitions - no "thou shalt nots" - and no
penalties set forth in the Fair Use statute, and the
"illegality" of any "use" - and the damages suffered, if
any - are questions to be determined by a court in proper
session having to do with the accusation of unfair or
improper use. Paul
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/copyright.html
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