Phyllis Fleming wrote:
I know this FGS thread is old, but I'm just getting around to
following all the links.
I have had a problem converting FGS's also. Several Shelber's have
emailed me documents produced by their database programs. I realize
that I cannot publish them in exactly the same format designed by the
database program due to copyright laws. The information is not under
copyright protection, but the format is their property.
Actually the Copyright lawsa speaks directly to this, IF the data is
input and presented ina STANDARD FORM, then the format is not
copyrightable either. So you can ask, is the FORM a standard form? (
Like in Family TreeMaker, it is the dominant software, so it's forms are
by default "standard".) The same goes for Obitiuaries, they have a
"standard format" unless they are paid for, so they can be verbatim, but
like any other source courtesy says get permission for your own safety
if possible.
--
~~~
Jeff Scism, IBSSG
Scismgenie(a)adelphia.net
Crowley/Croley/Crawley DNA project
http://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.asp?code=B82518
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~scismfam/crowley/