My webpage has been "cribbed" onto WorldConnect

[Clare Fowler]

Hi there,

I have had a similar, abeit less severe, version of this happen to me.  I had contacted someone on GR about what appeared to be a common ancestor, which turned out to be the case.  After a few email exchanges, it became clear that the other person had taken a wrong branch in the tree, which I pointed out.  I gave him a copy of the required certificate and access to my tree to illustrate.  I heard nothing back and can now see from GR hot matches, that he has just copied all the entries from my tree into his.  I woudn't have minded if I had been asked, but that is 3 years of hard work on there - some thanks would have been nice!

Cheers,
Clare

[bwgan ceredig]

I must be a bit odd - sorry Clare, but if people don't use the info I have given them - THEN I get a bit narky!!

As in:

"XXX knows XXX mother's maiden name is XXX...why on earth are they still showing N/K - don't they trust me or something? "

Paranoia is a wonderful thing - anyway, just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't out to get me!!!

[Clare Fowler]

Hi there,

I don't resent the using of the data -  I mind when people don't say please or thank you.  I guess that is what narks me    I'm just old fashioned that way

Cheers,
Clare

[loo]

It's a cheap trick to use someone else's info without acknowledgement and permission.  The next person who utilizes it from the pirate site will not know why the names and relationships are alleged on the site, because they will never have access to the personal who did all the research!

[suttontrust]

This highlights a problem that's increasingly common.  We all use information from other people's research but we have to take it largely on trust.  We're unlikely to have all their evidence.  So while we may credit them in any publication we do, we don't have the proof.  We've managed to share a lot of genuine information, but who knows how many mistakes and false trails we're perpetuating?

[Clare Fowler]

Hi all,

I'm very lucky - not only do my (trusted) contacts give me info, but they usually send me a copy of the relevant image or at least a list of their sources.  I try to do the same when I am asked.

Cheers,
Clare

[loo]

I don't feel comfortable posting my family tree on the internet for the whole world to see, just a personal thing.  But I do make myself available to people who may be searching my lines.  It's not hard to find me if you are on the same trails as I am.

I have gotten a couple of large trees of my family from people I met on the internet, neither of whom are in any sort of blood line with me, but are peripheral to my family.  On one of them I have found some errors.  The other one I am not in a position to verify, as it requires going to England. 

I don't consider that anything that anyone gives me by way of a tree is absolutely true unless I verify it myself or unless they give me the data on which it is based.  Some do;  some don't.  If they won't, then I try to do it myself, using their findings as an excellent guide.  I just think it would be a mistake to assume that somebody else has got it right when you haven't seen it with your own eyes - I make enough mistakes myself!  And we all have different standards of "proof", no doubt.

[bitty_matriarch]

I understand very well that once you go public on your website about your
research, it's public property - but it doesn't half help bring in lost
cousins to the fold - as I know only too well
Just read my website Guestbook.

To quote the editor of Rootsweb Review:

"Plagiarism and copyright violation are two different things.
Plagiarism is using the ideas and original words of others without
acknowledging the source.  In scholarly research, plagiarism is considered
unethical and dishonest.  Considerate genealogists give credit to others for
information (and facts) but it is not legally required.

If your original creative writing about your ancestors has been "lifted"
then that *could* be copyright infringement......."

Cheers,  Ann

[Guy Etchells]

I understand very well that once you go public on your website about your
research, it's public property - but it doesn't half help bring in lost
cousins to the fold - as I know only too well
Just read my website Guestbook.

To quote the editor of Rootsweb Review:

"Plagiarism and copyright violation are two different things.
Plagiarism is using the ideas and original words of others without
acknowledging the source. In scholarly research, plagiarism is considered
unethical and dishonest. Considerate genealogists give credit to others for
information (and facts) but it is not legally required.

If your original creative writing about your ancestors has been "lifted"
then that *could* be copyright infringement......."

Cheers, Ann

That is disregarding database right (1997) which protects collections of data for 15 years.
It is unlawful to copy the collected data from a persons website.
Cheers
Guy