16 July 2013
How do we get our fellow genealogists to SHARE images, documents, stories and more?
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We have been reading a lot about
copyright infringement recently in our genealogy community and such
infringement just needs to STOP!
As “theft” of genealogy content continues to make headlines
(rightfully so, unfortunately), such news often deters “new” and “old”
genealogists from sharing their research either via a web-based ancestry tree,
via e-mail or even in person.
I was reminded of this when I re-read a saved blog post from
last year, Kris Williams: The Genealogy Grinch
(via Ancestry.com blog).
Have you run into one
of these in your family?
I’ve been fortunate, that when I have reached out to
complete strangers (albeit distant cousins) and vice versa, we’ve always been
willing to share what we know – in fact, my family reports are available on my personal
website. I loved doing the research, I loved
interacting with so many that helped me along the way, I loved sharing what I
learned with my family and I now love sharing that same information with the
world. In my mind, I don’t have an “exclusive”
right to any of this information. The
majority of what my report includes is public knowledge. I didn’t create these reports for the world, I
did create them for myself and my family and if someone else can make use of
the information, my response is “go for it!”
Though, please do make sure to retain my copyright notice and give
attribution. After all, that is both the
polite and legal thing to do.
Historically, it was much more challenging to make copies of
items held by others. Everything cost "real money" (in addition to time), whether it was making color photocopies of images, putting
documents in the mail at the post office, getting duplicates of photos, making
copies of documents, etc. So, in the past, it was more understandable that what may seem a simple request to the requester would require a lot of effort (and money) on the part of the requestee.
Nowadays, with
smart phones, scanners, the internet and all our technological toys, cost and
effort have been reduced dramatically. Do
you have a distant cousin, with all the technological toys at their fingertips,
who literally in 5 minutes could get you some key image or document? Yes, doesn’t?
Have you run into one
of these in your family?
Nowadays, besides the aforementioned record, image, etc,
grinch, I often hear tales of DNA grinches. Granted, when you are asking for
something as personal as some DNA, one can understand a certain reticence.
Additionally, when we are inundated with information about DNA use (and misuse)
by the authorities, issues about medical privacy, and so much more, we do have
to work harder to ensure those participating that their DNA information will
only be used for genealogical purposes and that it is inviolate otherwise. And, when you see a headline like this one
from last week, Spread of DNA databases sparks ethical concerns,
well, our job is cut out for us.
And, when I talk about a DNA grinch, it’s not the person who
has some real concerns with how such will be used, it is with the person who
has agreed to undergo such testing (often at the requestor’s cost) and then
dilly dallies and often never does the DNA testing. If you have concerns, don’t agree to do the
DNA testing. If you didn’t know you had
concerns and then they arose, communicate with the requestor – maybe you can
find an alternately appropriate subject or maybe you can offer to cover the
cost? Please don’t just drag your feet –
please be upfront.
Have you run into one
of these in your family?
Whether you have or
have not personally “run into one of these in your family,” what suggestions might you offer for someone
who is dealing with a genealogy grinch?
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