copyright laws
Replies: 9
Re: copyright laws
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Posted: 6 Dec 2006 9:42PM GMT |
Classification: Query
I took a class in this in college and if the information that is alleged to be copyrighted is being used for educational and non-profit purposes, it is OK to use it. I also attribute where I got in most of time. Also, as long as you do not claim authorship of the material.
Genealogy is a branch of history which is educational and about as non-profit as it gets!
Obituaries are in a rather unique category.
A newspaper cannot copyright something that the funeral home gives free of charge to them.And if a funeral home pays to have the obituary in the newspaper, it is my understanding that the newspaper can only copyright the form of the ad and NOT the contents!
Deaths are a matter of public record.I dont' think that public record can be copyrighted.
Also, in Texas, deceased persons have no right to privacy because their death is a matter of public record. At least that is how that was explained to me.
If I was to take a news story generated by Houston Chronicle reporters and try to sell it to another newspaper and claim that I wrote it, then I would be in a world of trouble!
But to post obituaries, I think not.
Most of the funeral homes that I know about like the publicity and several e-mail me obituaries that also appear in newspapers that claim to be copyrighted so I take the obituaries and post them. If the funeral home does NOT want me to include something in my post, then they include a "for further information, please contact --then list their name and phone number. " And I respect their wishes and include that message in my post.I am posting the obituaries but I do NOT have the right to know anything else because I am not a relative. This way , the privacy is guarded, there is dignity and respect and there is control over what gets onto the website.And the information still gets onto the website for relatives to find.
It works out fine.
Most newspaper obituaries are considered "stepchildren" anyway. The most inexperienced, newest reporter or copy editor is the one who takes and ormats the obituaries.
I am NOT making a profit from the obituaries that I post. I am educating interested persons in this surname.
Genealogy is a branch of history which is educational and about as non-profit as it gets!
Obituaries are in a rather unique category.
A newspaper cannot copyright something that the funeral home gives free of charge to them.And if a funeral home pays to have the obituary in the newspaper, it is my understanding that the newspaper can only copyright the form of the ad and NOT the contents!
Deaths are a matter of public record.I dont' think that public record can be copyrighted.
Also, in Texas, deceased persons have no right to privacy because their death is a matter of public record. At least that is how that was explained to me.
If I was to take a news story generated by Houston Chronicle reporters and try to sell it to another newspaper and claim that I wrote it, then I would be in a world of trouble!
But to post obituaries, I think not.
Most of the funeral homes that I know about like the publicity and several e-mail me obituaries that also appear in newspapers that claim to be copyrighted so I take the obituaries and post them. If the funeral home does NOT want me to include something in my post, then they include a "for further information, please contact --then list their name and phone number. " And I respect their wishes and include that message in my post.I am posting the obituaries but I do NOT have the right to know anything else because I am not a relative. This way , the privacy is guarded, there is dignity and respect and there is control over what gets onto the website.And the information still gets onto the website for relatives to find.
It works out fine.
Most newspaper obituaries are considered "stepchildren" anyway. The most inexperienced, newest reporter or copy editor is the one who takes and ormats the obituaries.
I am NOT making a profit from the obituaries that I post. I am educating interested persons in this surname.