Someone has put my tree on Ancestry

[Cell]

At what point do you own your tree?


You own your own wording. If the person has copied your exact text- your exact wording then that can be fought against. You don't own the people and dates in your tree, but you do own your own wording/written work

Kind Regards

[majm]

Umm,  Cell,

In different countries there are variations on copyright laws, so there are instances where you do NOT own your own words, but to publish your own words, I think you need to know the applicable copyright law - for example in some instances when you put information online in a genie tree database (whether "private" or "Public") I think you may be giving ownership of your words to the owner of that domain, I think its in the fine print somewhere, but its one of the reasons for so many people getting upset about privacy issues and identity theft and the like, not just the matter of sharing genie trees without the "express" permission/"informed" consent etc of the living people mentioned in them.   

I am in NSW Australia, and I understand that our copyright laws are under review at the present time, to take into consideration various aspects of ownership for professional and amateur works in the electronic media.

I do understand that this topic has been canvassed on other rootschat threads and perhaps will be a topic in future threads too.

Just an opinion, I have no legal qualifications, just age and experience!

Cheers Moi. 

[LoneyBones]

On copyright.
As an individual, it's almost impossible to excersise your rights, (from personal experience) unless you have limitless time and funds.
As for anything in the electronic media, in the imortal words of our very own Bob, " If it's not something you'd want to see on the side of a London bus, DON'T put it on the internet."  (This may not be an exact quote, my memory aint what it used to be, but it's close.)

Leonie.

[Redroger]

Ther is a solution: A small facility called GEDMARK which indelibly marks any trees or information that you post. I have it, but have not yet had occassion to use it. I would suggest anyone experiencing "copyright problems" give it a try, if it works it will certainly flummox the pirates!

[Cell]

Hi moi
 quote button is working sorry so I had to copy and paste" Umm,  Cell,

In different countries there are variations on copyright laws, so there are instances where you do NOT own your own words, but to publish your own words, I think you need to know the applicable copyright law - for example in some instances when you put information online in a genie tree database (whether "private" or "Public") I think you may be giving ownership of your words to the owner of that domain, I think its in the fine print somewhere, but its one of the reasons for so many people getting upset about privacy issues and identity theft and the like, not just the matter of sharing genie trees without the "express" permission/"informed" consent etc of the living people mentioned in them.   

I am in NSW Australia, and I understand that our copyright laws are under review at the present time, to take into consideration various aspects of ownership for professional and amateur works in the electronic media.

I do understand that this topic has been canvassed on other rootschat threads and perhaps will be a topic in future threads too.

Just an opinion, I have no legal qualifications, just age and experience!

Cheers Moi. 
"

I'm in Queensland and have dealt with copyright solicitors (p.s they cost a bomb ! I was out of pocket for a few $$$- but they were worth it)_, nothing to do with genealogy. It was to do with a design on a product  ( won't go into it  - but basically you do own anything you have written, and designed - you do not need to take out a copyright here in Australia)

I think you will find most civilized countries have the same laws ( allthough they differ a wee bit) - If you Can prove it is your work, it does not matter it is on so and so site - it still belongs to you .

Kind regards:)

[UkApril]

I took my own data off the 'net years ago because of a similar experience.  The person concerned started a postal list and shared everything that anyone had sent her.  I am still getting contacted by people who have my INCORRECT data which I have long since corrected.  I do not trust any of the data she sent me, and wonder whether the other people involved were similarly irritated about it all.

In any case, the research is half the fun and I have little desire to be handed it all on a plate.  Unless someone has inside information on those mysterious illegitimacies now 

April

[Redroger]

I thought that in the UK at least, a copyright only lasted 50 years, i.e. a photo taken in 1951 would now be free of copyright, yet at least one British Museum still claims copyright over such items. What is the position please?

[Nick29]

Crown copyright of published literary, dramatic or musical works expires 50 years after publication. Crown copyright of unpublished works expires the later of 125 years from creation or 31 December 2039. The latter provision is a transitional measure from the 1988 Act because that Act abolished perpetual copyright protection for unpublished materials. It is 50 years after the commencement of the 1988 Act plus the usual for expiration extension to the end of the year.

Crown copyright for artistic works is more complicated and is entangled in special treatment given to engravings and photographs. For artistic works made after the commencement of the 1988 Act, the rule is the same as for other works, 50 years after publication or 125 years after creation. An engraving created before commencement and published after commencement is in copyright for 50 years after publication. Copyright of an engraving created before commencement and unpublished expires at the end of 2039. Photographs taken between 1 June 1957 and commencement and published expire 50 years after publication. Photographs taken between 1 June 1957 and commencement and unpublished expire at the end of 2039. Photographs taken before 1 June 1957 expire 50 years after creation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_law_of_the_United_Kingdom

[andycand]

I'm in Queensland and have dealt with copyright solicitors (p.s they cost a bomb ! I was out of pocket for a few $$$- but they were worth it)_, nothing to do with genealogy. It was to do with a design on a product  ( won't go into it  - but basically you do own anything you have written, and designed - you do not need to take out a copyright here in Australia)

I think you will find most civilized countries have the same laws ( allthough they differ a wee bit) - If you Can prove it is your work, it does not matter it is on so and so site - it still belongs to you

The majority of data within a tree is not subject to copyright as it consists of public available material but additional information may be. For example if you added a story about the life of great uncle Charlie who ran away to sea then that story would be your copyright because you wrote it. The problem is if someone did breach your copyright what do you do about it?

Andy