ORKNEY-L Archives

Archiver > ORKNEY > 2000-08 > 0967381817


From: "Norman D. Nicol" <>
Subject: Re: [ORKNEY] Re: Orkney 1851 Census on microfiche - ethics of look ups etc
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2000 08:10:17 -0500


I must agree with David. Anyone who can afford to own a PC can afford a
microfiche reader which costs about one-tenth of the PC's price.
Alternatively, fiche readers are available in just about every library
and FHC in existence. The fiche are small and light and can be easily
carried to such a facility. Using the excuse of not being able to
afford the fiche, booklets and other copyrighted published materials is
no excuse for taking intellectual property unlawfully. That's the
equivalent of stealing a car with the explanation that you can't afford
to buy one. Taking the hard work of an individual and passing it around
for free just stifles the enthusiasm of those of us who spend long hours
and our own money making materials available to the genealogical
community. David explained that he does not make a living at selling
his work, but only plows the modest profits back into making even more
information available to all of us. We all should ask ourselves,
regardless of how we earn our living, if we would give away our labor
for free. Everything costs somebody somewhere something.
--
Norman D. Nicol, Ph.D.
Professional Genealogist/Family Historian
Specializing in NE Pennsylvania, NYC,
England and Scotland

This thread: