Posting downloaded documents from Ancestry

Does this apply only to documents downloaded from The National Archives' website, or does it also apply to documents held at TNA but accessed via (for example) Ancestry?

 

I was forgetting that Ancestry would have copyright in the images they had created, so the first part of my post was a silly question, sorry. I think I will go back to sleep now . . .

 

From memories of doing a 'Teaching' course, there is an 'acceptance' that up to 10% of any 'published' material can be used without breaching Copyright.

Now whilst it is arguable that 'teaching' is different to 'researching', a single page from a Census constitutes considerably less than 10% of the overall publication.

I get the feeling here that the 'management' is in danger of 'painting themselves into a corner'. If the outcome of the responses is not questioned, as to reasonableness, legality, etc, then there is the danger of a bland 'corporate' "No."

Should that be the case then the membership can, themselves, upload an image, be it a Census page or a Will, to a 'Cloud' site, and invite subscribers to view it there.

Such would exonerate the 'forum' from any culpability with the onus then being with the contributor. Feasible, but tedious.

Frankly, I'm of the opinion that pitfalls are being identified where they have not actually arisen and that the principal of 'let sleeping dogs lie' would have best prevailed.

However, to continue the 'pet' theme metaphors, the 'cat is now out of the bag'.

If the 'management' deem such matters so important then why are they continuing to allow requests for 'look-ups' at 'Subscription' sites. I've voiced my opinions previously how such can be 'disguised', but they still appear.

To broaden the discussion, do 'look-ups' have the potential to increase the 'customer base'? Certainly, Ancestry, in recent months, have provided access to Canadian records FOC. These 'taster' days are not without an economic target. Whilst there will be some that 'rip the backside' out of such an offer (myself included) there will be others that see a 'value' in expanding their subscription.

Perhaps 'look-ups' serve a similar purpose?

I'm not 'having a knock' at anyone. Just airing thoughts on the subject.

 

Any news on this yet Jan?

 

Thanks Jan, see what happens when one ventures into other forums? Just got around to doing what I set out to do in odds & sods
Best go & prep up for dinners ours &theirs, odd little doggies noises starting up.

 

I thought if you acknowledged it as CC it was ok - ie. Crown Copyright courtesy of TNA . or you could slightly alter the wording. Don't think you are allowed to copy and paste though

 

It seems to be one of those grey areas! we don't want to breach copyright and get into any trouble

 

When I wanted permission to use gaol photographs from NSW State records of five of 'my girls' I had the same quandary. They're all on film in Sydney but online at Ancestry to which I subscribe. I received permission to use them from SRNSW but I was unable to work out whether I could use the images from Ancestry (even though my IT cousin tells me that it would be impossible for them to know where my images came from if I had downloaded them and I had to put them into Flickr before I could get them onto my site.)

I'm therefore waiting to see what 'the big A' says.
Jane

 

This certainly is a grey area. Many of the Warwickshire records on Ancestry can also be viewed at my town's library. These are on microfilm, and a hardcopy printout of any useful image can be yours for, I think, 10p. Registers can be studied at various LRO's, and copies obtained. Just who owns the copyright? To be on the safe side I will only quote from images I have downloaded. And quote the source.

 

I'll be it you sent them a message saying that you HAD used their image on a website (say Wikipedia) you'd get a response!
Jane

 

Perhaps a freecall via phone? If the person doesn't know, they at least refer to a senior member. I thought of doing so but didn't want to spoil your fun.

 

On a similar theme: The question was asked on FMP facebook page 'do you allow subscribers' to use your records to help others and post them to a FH help forum' The answer from FMP was YES we do. Hasn't it always been supposed that FMP object to their records being used on forums?

Ancestry have a Facebook page and if you receive no answer from your email Jan perhaps the question could be asked on Facebook. As FB pages are public both FMP and Ancestry do seem to answer questions on their respective FB page.

 

According to one friend, if the image does not contain a copyright notice and no commercial use is intended then it's yours to do with as you wish. Better still he said, resize the image ever so slightly, then it is definitely yours. Hmm, the jury is still out here.

David

No family tree is complete without a skeleton in the cupboard