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KLeach
Medium member
Canada
169 Posts |
 Posted - 08/12/2014 : 06:21:00
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Quick question...I came across a topic in one member's posts that had direct links to a few of the people I am researching.
What is the protocol around starting a new topic that may copy material from someone else's post? Can I copy and paste the information?
I may have to use some of the same names in my post topic that have already been used by one of the members.
Thanks. |
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lornejohnson
Senior member
Canada
287 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2014 : 18:05:36
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| You could try contacting that person that created the post . Most contributors have an email contact. If you click on their name it should take you to their personal information. |
Lorne Johnson |
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3020 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2014 : 19:01:23
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KLeach, not sure I understand, but certainly you are free to post a query about anyone, excepting living individuals. If your target individual has been discussed in another thread, here or in any forum, it is courteous to alert forum contributors about that and provide a link to those prior discussions.
Failing to refer to the earlier discussion can actually be problematic.
Generally it seems to be standard operating procedure to copy information from elsewhere and paste it into your own thread. Forum contributors surely assume that their posts are given freely, with no restrictions, to any one's benefit. The only exception that occurs to me: if someone's research, given for free, were used to create a financial profit, that is not ethical, depending on specific situation. Whether it would be legal falls under copyright laws re Fair Use.
In the case of a discussion about a given individual, no one can copyright an opinion etc. Only the specific words, in a specific order - the exact way of saying something - can be copyrighted. So when in doubt, paraphrase. Citing the author of the earlier post (giving credit) is courteous, where that person's insight helped you.
Fair use involves a proportionate measure. It is fair to quote a paragraph from a book (it is legal) but you can't (legally) reproduce nine out of ten chapters without first securing permission.
I suggest you mention - and provide a link to - the earlier discussion, copy and paste enough of it into your new thread to clarify what part you are referring to, then expand on the point in your own words.
In the case of records that were posted, these would be in the public domain. No poster owns rights to them. It is courteous to acknowledge the researcher who found the information, but not absolutely required.
Does that help? |
Edited by - JaneC on 08/12/2014 20:06:12 |
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KLeach
Medium member
Canada
169 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2014 : 20:32:18
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Just wanted to make sure it was ok to cut and paste info from another post that is related to research I have gathered. Many thanks. This helps.
....................
quote:
Originally posted by JaneC
KLeach, not sure I understand, but certainly you are free to post a query about anyone, excepting living individuals. If your target individual has been discussed in another thread, here or in any forum, it is courteous to alert forum contributors about that and provide a link to those prior discussions.
Failing to refer to the earlier discussion can actually be problematic.
Generally it seems to be standard operating procedure to copy information from elsewhere and paste it into your own thread. Forum contributors surely assume that their posts are given freely, with no restrictions, to any one's benefit. The only exception that occurs to me: if someone's research, given for free, were used to create a financial profit, that is not ethical, depending on specific situation. Whether it would be legal falls under copyright laws re Fair Use.
In the case of a discussion about a given individual, no one can copyright an opinion etc. Only the specific words, in a specific order - the exact way of saying something - can be copyrighted. So when in doubt, paraphrase. Citing the author of the earlier post (giving credit) is courteous, where that person's insight helped you.
Fair use involves a proportionate measure. It is fair to quote a paragraph from a book (it is legal) but you can't (legally) reproduce nine out of ten chapters without first securing permission.
I suggest you mention - and provide a link to - the earlier discussion, copy and paste enough of it into your new thread to clarify what part you are referring to, then expand on the point in your own words.
In the case of records that were posted, these would be in the public domain. No poster owns rights to them. It is courteous to acknowledge the researcher who found the information, but not absolutely required.
Does that help?
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3020 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2014 : 00:53:35
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| Okay, great. As I reread what I wrote, does not seem precise to me, or perfectly accurate as stated, but you get the idea, that it is fair for forum participants to quote each other, within reasonable limits, and while acknowledging the source. |
Edited by - JaneC on 09/12/2014 00:56:56 |
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Posting Protocol Question re Other People's Topics
