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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 2002-01 > 1012079882


From: (Gordon Johnson)
Subject: Re: U.S. Copyright Law (was: several related threads with diffeent titles)
Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2002 21:18:02 GMT
References: <a9b2ce02.0201240644.3236c7ea@posting.google.com>, <fdj05ugmstjdkgpi745mnor6693qrbeldi@4ax.com>


On Thu, 24 Jan 2002 13:21:09 -0500, Denis Beauregard
<> wrote:
>Usually copyrights law wouldn't apply in genealogy, merely for
>2 reasons:
>
>- a fact can't copyrighted, so you can't copyright the fact
> that someone is the father of someone else. Most copyright
> claims are about complete or nearly complete databases, not
> about small set of data
>- you can easily rephrase a statement explaining some case.
> For example:
>
>Original author wrote:
>
>"The link between Robin Hood and Edward 12 is proven by a
>deed where the land of Sherwood is sold by Edward 12 to his
>son Robin Hood".
>
>So, one could use the same data, but written differently:
>
>"There is a deed prooving Edward 12 is the father of
>Robin Hood. In this deed, it is said that Edward 12 sold
>the land of Sherwood to Robin Hood his son".
>
>
>This is why it is important to have some code of honor or
>ethical rules.
** I believe the matter is not about a simple restatement of facts,
but reproducing an entire process of discussion where the participants
dispute evidence concerning the data. Anyone simply wanting to
reproduce a few facts would have considerable trouble excavating the
"facts" from the discussion. People like that are not those who wouild
be reading such material anyway!
Nice to see that you are still around, Denis.
Gordon Johnson.
(long away from here, for reasons unconnected with the group.)


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