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Archiver > WIKI-GENPAGES > 2009-04 > 1239831666


From: Bill <>
Subject: Re: [WIKI-GENPAGES] Participation and opinions about the future ofWiki genealogy sites
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:41:06 -0400
References: <49E54505.3020607@integrity.com><ddeffd3f0904150852o446bacb3r1380bd92126c9728@mail.gmail.com><B79874E0-DB8E-40D7-862D-863F7F778B2C@earthlink.net><ddeffd3f0904151307y687ab1c1jc97bc231c9bc8e47@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <ddeffd3f0904151307y687ab1c1jc97bc231c9bc8e47@mail.gmail.com>


On Apr 15, 2009, at 4:07 PM, Familytwigs wrote:

> My opinion is hardly important.

Sure it is. its a wiki world. Everyone's opinion is relevant.

> But I first was troubled by the "junk genealogy" conversations
> going on.

To a great extent I agree with you. But my issue is more in
referring to other's work as junk. The underlying point of interest
about improving genealogy on the wiki is, I think very relevant.
Wish different words to describe it. After all, no one thinks their
own work is junk---its always the other guys work that's junk.

> Last month, or maybe in February the
> conversation was about finding cemeteries (then later other data) and
> emailing the people that had submitted them (like genweb, etc.) and
> getting
> them to say they could put them on WeRelate. There were comments
> made that
> copyright did not apply since facts cannot be copyrighted. They
> are right
> about facts and copyright, but not about someone else's list of
> facts. The
> only way NOT to infringe is to do the readings of cemeteries
> themselves, or
> have in writing the person who created the list/photos permission
> to use the
> data.

Copyright is a subject that many have an opinion on. Very few of us
have any real expertise in that area, so it's almost always a matter
of opinion.
Some folks do spend a great deal of time educating themselves on the
subject, and have considerable experience with the subject, albeit
they lack law degrees.
There are many who would disagree with your view. I'd recommend
reading Mike Goads article at

http://www.pddoc.com/copyright/genealogy_copyright_fundamentals.htm

Mike's views, as presented above are grounded in his careful reading
of copyright law. He's not a lawyer, but his opinion is valuable
because he's looking at the underlying literature to support his
ideas---rather than just coming up with something off the top of his
head. You probably won't agree with these views, but I'd recommend
that you look over the ideas they present. Particularly the section
dealing with "Compilations".


> To me a database, added the way I understood you would add it on
> wiki, would
> slowly build a meaningful database that was complete with the flesh
> on the
> bones, so to speak. That was what I signed on for.

Yes, I think that's true...most wiki's have that as an objective.
Those I'm familiar with a mostly focused on creating a database of
persons connected genealogically to each other. Lots of data there.
DOB's and DOD's begats, and DOM's etc. Not usually sourced
unfortunately. But definitely a database. Sometimes folks also
attempt to build data sets such as cemetery records---say, all the
cemetery records in Ohio, gathered however they gather them. I'd
probably say there are better places to do that, but it also doesn't
trouble me if it floats someone elses boat to do that. If you feel
someone's doing something like that in violation of copyright, then
you probably should point that out. But read Mike Goads article first.

> I am sorry I signed on right now. Maybe I can go back to it, maybe
> I will just continue to regret taking part.

You mean on Werelate? Why? You may not agree with some folks opinions
of something, but what does that matter to you? Just don't read the
watercooler, and focus on doing genealogy. Find like minded folk who
share your interests, and work with them.

>
> Well, anyway it seems to me all of the above detract from the
> original purpose, and the building of the database.

I honestly don't understand what you are concerned with here. Seems
to me that Werelate and every other Wiki I've looked at is doing
exactly that---building a database.
But perhaps your definition of a "database" is more narrow than mine.

> It also makes me wonder about the future of WeRelate as well.
> What is in the minds of the owners for it's future? Paid or free?

Can't say. Interesting question though. Since its not-for profit,
what they can do with the information contributed is, I suspect,
limited.

Bill
>
>
>
>> So, what kind of discussion is it that doesn't appeal to you?
>>
>>
>>
> --
> Twigs (Sheri) ^..^
> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~familytwigs/
> index.htm
> TwigTalk http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/
> SeekingOurTwigs http://groups.yahoo.com/group/seekingourtwigs/
>
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