USGENWEB-ALL-L Archives

From: Sandy <>
Subject: Re: [USGENWEB-ALL-L] Copyright assignment, the concept.
Date: Tue, 08 Jun 1999 22:53:07 -0500

Fred,

I take copyright seriously.
(just ask my lawyer! <G>)

I just don't plan to become the watchdog for somebody *else's* copyrights.
That's beyond the scope of what I would agree to take on as a USGenWeb volunteer.

I've got enough problems dealing with the "copyrighteous" who run round
intimidating every newbie (and oldie who doesn't know better - and there
are lots of them!)

I have no idea what you've sent to the project that you feel requires
some "permanent publications permission"?? I guess you must send
something other than lists of data and facts.
But I've never assigned a single right over to USGenWeb, and I've
provided some wills, cemeteries, military records, rosters...NONE of
which is even copyrightable in the first place! ;-)

I have no doubt if I got mad or something and wanted it taken down,
somebody would do that. But the truth is, they do NOT *have* to! And no
court would make them.
The project would do it because that's how the project operates, not
because they have to.

Obviously, you must've been submitting some essays or something quite
different than I have. ;-)

I think it's fine if *you* want to help someone who runs into a
copyright problem, but IMHO, you should do so as "Fred the individual
nice guy" and not as a rep. of USGenWeb. I just think it gets too messy
when you've got non-lawyers messin' around in something like that.

Shoot, I deal with copyrights fairly regularly. I know more about it
than the average person...yet I would never DREAM of engaging in a
serious copyright dispute on my own! Too many landmines, too many twists
and turns...and as the author, you are FAR too "attached" and
emotionally involved because someone's *stolen* what is yours.

That's why you need a lawyer. I'm not one....and I don't think most
volunteers are. I think we could easily do more harm than good.
Lots of good intentions go awry.

I don't think it's appropriate for USGenWeb to become involved in *any*
one's copyright problems. I sincerely believe we could destroy this
project if we do.

And if you start having people "assign rights" to USGenWeb, then the
project WILL NEED to hire an attorney.

Are you willing to pay for that? I'm not.

Sandy
---------
Fred Smoot wrote:
<snipped>
> > I have sent my usual "permanent publication rights" statement along with
> the first file. However, since we are having such in depth and
> enlightening copyright dialogue on our USALL list, I have asked myself
> if the granting of "permanent publication rights" is enough.

> Why not just grant (assign) the copyright to the Archives or the
> Project? What if others did the same?
>
> Then there would be no question of just who would be the injured party
> if the harvester stole our work.
>
> Do you think that maybe then we would take copyright infringement
> seriously?
>
> Fred Smoot
>
> ==== USGENWEB-ALL Mailing List ====
> The USGenWeb Project is not a commercial project.

This thread:

• [USGENWEB-ALL-L] Copyright assignment, the concept. by Fred Smoot <>

  • Re: [USGENWEB-ALL-L] Copyright assignment, the concept. by Sandy <>

  • Re: [USGENWEB-ALL-L] Copyright assignment, the concept. by Linda Russell Lewis <>
  • Re: [USGENWEB-ALL-L] Copyright assignment, the concept. by Fred Smoot <>