I know just what you mean. I am sorry that it happened to you. It is
horrible to work for years on a project and find that someone else has taken
the credit and plagiarized your work.
I am a professional researcher; however I have also worked on my own line for
more than 20 years. I have amassed more than 600 "grandparents". A few
months ago, I found one whole line of mine on the net and now it is
EVERYWHERE. I am very UNHAPPY. Unfortunately, as in the case with you,
there is nothing that I can do about it.
Over the years I have "shared" my information with other researchers --- BIG
mistake!! I don't give anyone, anything, anymore. It is really a shame that
we can no longer share our genealogy without having it cannibalized.
It is my opinion that some of the problem is the "genealogy societies". We
are asked to join and leave our family information on file with them. After
doing so, others seem to feel that if they see it, that it belongs to them.
And, they copy it and then "publish" it. I do not know for sure, but after
analyzing the culprit's other family lines, she may have gotten my
information form the Switzerland County Historical Society.
I too, went directly to the person who had published it as her own. When
queried about her reasons for STEALING my work, she only said that she felt
that someone else at some other time might wish to know about it.
Like you --- I am really unhappy. She has my date of birth and all of my
personal information spread all over the net.