Genealogy's Star - What is original? copyright vs. family trees online or otherwise

[Family Tree Forum]

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[Guy]

Unfortunately yet again the above missive applies to copyright in the USA and has no place on a forum for European and United Kingdom genealogy.
Copyright law in European and United Kingdom includes database law which recognises "sweat of brow" which the USA legislation does not.
This give copyright to a collection of facts and even to individual fact repeatedly used (for instance one fact published on the internet to allow a number of other people to see the information would be a breach).

Following such American directions may involve you in expensive legal costs as a major American genealogical company found out when they copied a collection of facts which were under copyright in the UK (they settled out of court).
Cheers
Guy

[Elaine ..Spain]

Unfortunately yet again the above missive applies to copyright in the USA and has no place on a forum for European and United Kingdom genealogy.

The forum may have a very high percentage of European researchers but we are not a forum for solely "European and UK genealogy".

[Guy]

I agree but by the way the postings are promoted on the forum many European and UK genealogists will assume the advice applies to them.
If they follow the American advice they could find themselves lumbered with 5 figure court costs.
They could even sue the forum owners in an attempt to mitigate the costs which could work out expensive for the forum owners.
The damages awarded could be tiny but the costs astronomical.
Cheers
Guy

[scuda]

I think it would be reasonable for people using a UK forum to assume that "official" postings (i.e. not from individual members) such as these take a UK viewpoint. Where they don't, wouldn't it be wise for the moderators to put a warning to this effect, rather than leaving it for Guy or another member to point it out?

scuda