ETHICS-IN-GENEALOGY-L Archives

From: "RachLisa" <>
Subject: Re: [Ethics] Mailing Lists and Web Sites
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 13:18:01 -0500
References: <51.3eaba292.2dd78af9@aol.com>

Has anyone ever been arrested for using this stuff?

----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 10:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Ethics] Mailing Lists and Web Sites


> In a message dated 5/15/2004 6:52:16 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> writes:
> If what I have read is correct, all church records (In the US) are
> considered to be in the "Public Domain" from the year about 1927 and
> before. Also the information contained in all of these early records, in
> itself, is not copyrighted. Only the form and format of the original
> pages are copyrighted (after 1927 or abouts). ----
> Don-
>
> I don't know where people are getting this 1927 year as cutoff for "drop
> dead" safe as being out of copyright for US published material but it
isn't
> accurate. The year is 1923 under current law--anything published prior to
1923 in
> the US is safe and out of copyright--cannot be renewed, etc. I suspect
people
> think that this incriments with time and, if it was 1923 last year it must
be
> 1924 this year and so on,--but that isn't the case. 1923 was set (carved
in
> stone for now) as the "drop dead" safe year and it will remain that way
> until/unless the law is changed.
>
> And, as to your statement that: "Only the form and format of the original
> pages are copyrighted (after 1927 or abouts)." Publications that were
published
> 1923 or later MAY still be under copyright--not just form and format--but
> complete text. Of course, as already noted public record info cannot be
> copyrighted at all in the US to begin with--only original content.
>
> You also state: "all church records (In the US) are considered to be in
the
> "Public Domain"". I'd like to know what you are basing this statement on
as
> it is my understanding that CHURCH records are PRIVATE records, as are
pastor's
> journals and logs, cemetery records, funeral home records. Although the
data
> contained in these files could be considered public record type info--I do
> not believe the actual journals/logs are considered public domain data.
What
> *ARE* PUBLIC records are US government and state and local government
vital
> records.
>
> Joan
>
>

This thread:

• Is Anyone on the List ? by "Valda Napier" <>
  • Re: [Ethics] Is Anyone on the List ? by Valorie Zimmerman <>
  • RE: [Ethics] Is Anyone on the List ? by "Chris Eddy" <>