Changes to Ancestry's terms & conditions

[frostyknight]

I've just been reading about the latest changes to Ancestry's terms and conditions:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058202423/big-change-to-ancestrys-tos

and

https://dna-explained.com/2021/08/04/clock-is-ticking-in-28-days-ancestry-can-do-anything-they-want-with-every-image-in-your-tree/

and at the legal genealogist:

https://www.legalgenealogist.com/2021/08/04/one-big-change-at-ancestry/

Apparently Ancestry have added a 'perpetual and irrevocable' right to use any images, etc which users upload, which is a change to the previous t&c's, so I thought I'd give a heads up to fellow Rootschatters.

Apologies if this has already been posted elsewhere on the forum, I had a quick look and couldn't see anything.

[Girl Guide]

So does that include images already loaded on to Ancestry or just new ones added from the date of notification?

I can't say I would be too happy about Ancestry having the means to do what they like with my images.

As it happens it wouldn't be a problem for me as I don't have any images on Ancestry.

[frostyknight]

Seems to include already loaded ones too.

[Girl Guide]

Oh my.  Is it possible to remove images or once they are on there, that's it?

[Crumblie]

The email telling me about the change only arrived a couple of hours ago so I am at a bit of loss as to how they can change something without giving their subscribers prior knowledge of it. Is it legal to say 'and by the way we have changed our terms and conditions' after the fact?

[GordonFindlay]

This is simply theft of intellectual property.

Any images already uploaded to Ancestry are covered by the change - as The Legal Genealogist confirms. So images that we uploaded to Ancestry with one set of conditions are now covered by a much different set of conditions.

If you don't remove the images before the change takes effect - 2/3 September - Ancestry has them forever, even if you delete them later.

Some Ancestry users have found images on my own (non-Ancestry) web site which they have uploaded to their Ancestry tree. Unless they are deleted in time it means that I have lost control of images that I originated and didn't ever upload!

My Ancestry tree will be gone soon.

[KGarrad]

Not sure I understand all the fuss?

Ancestry's T's & C's have always included such a clause.
They rely on people not reading, fully, the T's & C's!

[majm]

I do not have any of my own family history uploaded to any of those commercial websites, however the wife of one of my first cousins uploaded her research and photos from her wedding, including ones with her flowergirls (one was her youngest sister, one was her mum's god-daughter, one was my cousins youngest sister and one was me - so two from bride's family, and two from groom's family).  The ceremony was pre 1955, in New South Wales, Australia.    Several years ago one of those flowergirls from the bride's family became interested in family history and joined Ancestry where she discovered the photo.  She contacted the tree owner who apparently claimed ownership of the uploaded tree, photos, information, citations 'everything'... and that she had no need to ask permission of anyone in any of those photos because of Australian law on photos and pre 1955 and she declined to remove the photo and rudely told her relative 'where to get off' .... 

Longer story followed,  short version here:
Ancestry did not take photo down despite a legal eagle writing a letter asking for that and noting that most of those in the photo were still very much living, alert people.
The tree owner has taken photo down BECAUSE her own adult children and grandchildren TOLD HER TO.  And her husband apologised to everyone at a recent family reunion.   

So yes,  I can confirm that the historical T & Cs from Ancestry effectively gave them control of anything the subscriber uploaded. 


JM
Has Ancestry recently changed hands ... or is that still in the near future?

[GordonFindlay]

Not sure I understand all the fuss?

Ancestry's T's & C's have always included such a clause.
They rely on people not reading, fully, the T's & C's!

The difference now is that taking a photo down from your tree does not remove Ancestry's right to use it.