Blogging your tree?

[stoney]

Hi,

I've set up a blog page for my Family History interets - but I'm not sure what to include?  Has anyone else here done this? I thought I'd use it as a showcase of family pictures and some of the family tree.

Any ideas/cautions?


Stoney

[andycand]

Hi Stoney

Remember that the Internet constitutes publishing so make sure you don't upload items that are subject to copyright without the copyright holders permission. This could include photos and other documents

Andy

[stoney]

Thanks, Andy.

The photos I wold use are all family-owned so no probs there. What about certificates I've purchased? IS there any copyright exclusion on their use?

I'm not sure yet exactly what I'll include - it's mainly an exercise to get everything into a format for some of my wide-flung family to be able to access across the globe.

Stoney

[andycand]

Hi

I would check with the National Archives re England & Wales census images and whilst I have read that certificates can now be uploaded I would check it out. Scotland is different so I would check Scotlandspeople.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/advice/crown-copyright/copyright-guidance/copyright-in-public-records.htm

Andy

[Sloe Gin]

Here is a more up-to-date link including the April 2009 revisions.  Advertising and living people excepted, you should be OK. 

Copying of Birth, Death, Marriage and Civil Partnership Certificates

Date: 27 October 1999
(Revised April 2009)

Introduction
1. This guidance note sets out the arrangements for the reproduction of official birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates (’extracts’ in Scotland). Copyright in the layout of certificates is owned by the Crown. The Crown does not assert any rights of ownership in the contents of the forms.

Reproduction
2. You are authorised to reproduce the layout of the form in any format including on the web, in films and in print. This authorisation is subject to the following conditions:

That you must not use reproductions of certificates to provide evidence of birth, death, marriage or civil partnership. Where a copy is required to provide evidence that an event was registered you must order an official certificate (’extract’ in Scotland) from a local registration office or General Register Office (listed below);
That the material is not used to advertise or promote a particular product or service, or in a way which could imply endorsement by HM Government;
That you comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998. This guidance does not authorise you to reproduce the contents of any certificate containing personal data about living individuals;
That you reproduce the Royal Arms and any departmental logo only as an integral part of a certificate.
3. Any further queries regarding reproduction should be directed to the appropriate GRO

[Lydart]

I also presume it might be adviseable to also put the thing about Crown Copyright ?   Like we do on here ?

Or does the copyright belong to you once you've bought the cert and own it ?


Copyright seems to be a minefield for the unwary !



The other thing to be wary of is that ANYTHING you float onto the internet (including stuff on this site !) can be seen and used by ANYONE ANYWHERE !!

[Sloe Gin]

As they say, the image of the certificate is copyright, but the content is not - however subject to the conditions outlined, we are allowed to reproduce the image, although copyright remains with the Crown.

I did bring this to the attention of the board, but the copyright editor decided to "bury" it, closing the thread and citing limitations of bandwidth to restrict posting certs on here.  The latter point is fair enough, but I found it inexplicable not to highlight this important change for the attention of Rootschat members.  (I didn't even get a thank you, but that doesn't surprise me  )

See  http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,442240.0.html

[stoney]

OK - so my next question is:

To restrict viewing, could I password-protect my blog, so that only those I give permission to view could do so?

I've no idea how I would do that?

Stoney

[Lydart]

I'm sure its possible ... it certainly is with www.blogspot.com ... but no idea how !