WIKI-GENPAGES-L Archives

Archiver > WIKI-GENPAGES > 2008-01 > 1199217403


From: Bill <>
Subject: Re: [WIKI-GENPAGES] My Heritage
Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2008 14:56:43 -0500
References: <c5d.2431f3b9.34aaa665@aol.com><200712312312.lBVNBsRX030663@mail.rootsweb.com><477ABA48.6350.2E28F9C0@andrew.billinghurst.org><ddeffd3f0801010748r5e86160fu11ed09a66bd80824@mail.gmail.com><6CE0901A-BD53-4A9E-AF82-3D7628BA0B36@earthlink.net><ddeffd3f0801011046n2ce613cbh25fbd9478a74fb5a@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <ddeffd3f0801011046n2ce613cbh25fbd9478a74fb5a@mail.gmail.com>


> Where to start......They were pulling in all genealogy sites from
> the web
> and putting them under subscriber only data.

Just like Google etc.

> Massive complaints and threatened lawsuits forced them to "open" it
> to all with registration.

So the concept wasn't the problem, just the fact that they initially
restricted it as a service for their paying customers?
I believe they opened it up the next day to everyone, but the
complaints did not end---so they killed it.

> Problem was, they were caching the sites.

Just like Google, etc.

> The entire thing was scrapped because of the legal problems
> (copyright issues mostly).

Probably not an accurate description of why it was scrapped, though I
don't know much of this of my own personal knowledge,
More likely it was scrapped because their core community didn't like
the idea---mostly for reasons that seem inexplicable ---like a) and
b) above

> I think that many of the decisions made now are made by people
> looking for
> pure profit and not by people into research. That is a problem.

Yes, that seems to be the problem. People do want things for nothing.

> Even with all that, if they were within my budget, I would
> subscribe. No
> where else has the data they do YET.

All things considered, their cost is fairly nominal. About the same
as for my internet service provider per month.
And given their massive investment in things like the US Census
transcription, we get our money's worth.

Bill





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