Fair Use of Family Archive CDs
For your own research, you may use any and all data from the Family
Archive CDs you buy, such as World Family Tree Family Archives. If
you have an opportunity to collaborate with others on family research,
that's great! Copyright laws permit sharing of small quantities
of data with family members and friends, and if applicable, with
clients of your professional genealogical services.
For Family Archive users, "small quantities" can mean
the following:
- Information about one nuclear family.
- The names of all individuals with the same first or last name,
living in an exact county in an exact decade.
- Complete information about one individual in the Family Archive CD.
Note that the examples listed above are all very specific pieces
of information. The key thing to remember is that it's OK to use
your Family Archive CD to help someone else quickly fill in a small
blank in their family research. But if they want to rely on your
Family Archive CD for anything more than a name here or a date there,
they should buy their own copy to use.
When you're not sure if something is OK, consider these three
rules of the "Fair Use" doctrine of U.S. copyright law.
- Purpose and Character of the Use -- If it is for non-profit
or educational purposes, it may be fair; if it is for commercial
gain it may be unfair.
- Amount and Substantiality of the Portion Used -- Must not
be too large compared to the copyrighted work as a whole.
- Effect of the Use on the Copyrighted Work -- Must not harm
the potential market for, or value of, the work.
If a publisher such as a software company perceives that his copyright
has been abused, he can bring legal action against the person
or company suspected. Courts then use the rules of Fair Use to
determine whether the copyright actually has been violated.