Genealogy Chat

I agree with what you're saying Sarah. I usually ask if I may copy the relevant parts of their tree, but not on my GR tree, only to my own tree making programme. At the end of the day, all the info is out there for everyone and it is a bit galling if your own is just copied when you've put in all those hours of research. Sue

Clive That is exactly what GR should put in very large letters on this site. My point was tree viewing and copying of trees are distinctly different and something that isn't always considered before access is allowed. You have put that point across in a very easy to understand way and GR should take the hint and incorporate that message at every stage BEFORE tree access is granted. Glen

Glenn Surely the answer is easy: if you share your tree you lose control over its contents. If your instinct is to be controlling, don't share; or at the very least, don't include anything in an online tree you wouldn't be happy to see reproduced anywhere, and put to any use.

Hi Guys, Thanks for your comments on this. It is slightly annoying when I have spent a long time researching it all and someone gets it for free. Then on the other hand it was me who opened my tree to them. I just think it would have been nice for them to ask, just out of politeness really. The only other thing that really got my goat about it was they used info from my Mum's side of the family too even though their link with my tree is in the 1700's on my dad's side!!!! Oh well, we live and learn. Think I will just give the info on a spreadsheet from now on!

I'll rise to the bait Clive. Re your comment about sharing.. By opening your tree to someone are you actually i granting them access to view o ii granting permission to copy all/part of the contents. iii granting permission to view and copy This is one of those well hidden disclaimers that GR bury in the T&C and would hide behind. GR are very vague, they do warn the details can be copied but they also say that you should have permission of living people before you place their details on the site. What they DON'T say is that you can or can't grant that permission on behalf of living people.

Hi All, I've been a member of Genes almost since it started and it's been said before about putting living rellies on here, if you do put them on then DON'T put in any dates as you could have your identity stolen. I opened my tree to someone and they put it on the world web, I learnt by my mistake, so now I'm careful (I hope) My son had his identity stolen 3 years ago and he is still trying to get over it. There is nothing stopping anyone taking all your details so be warned. This is still a great site so don't be put off. I'll get off my high horse now sorry but I had to say something. Happy hunting everyone. Regards Jill. G.C.

I only share my tree after a real link has been established (via message or e-mail). So, I have only shared it 4 or 5 times. After that, I don't really mind if the other person simply copies. I am doing my research for my own sake and my own satisfaction. If the other person feels fulfilled by copying then that is their problem.

It is irritating to find your work copied - but you did share it - I don't share my tree on GR any more, but I used to. Some while ago I put a couple of completely fictitious people in my tree, and I have been mightily amused to have been contacted by a complete stranger (who must have copied from someone who copied from me) with a Hot Match! In both cases the children were born after the mother was dead (so it wouldn't have been hard to rumble), but some people do their 'research' with their eyes wide shut.

Sounds like i am a killjoy but the best way (for me) is to use a genealogy programme, then send a GEDCOM for the part of the tree the other person links to, no more and no less. That way they have the details for the parts they link too, not everyone who happens to be in my tree. When sending a GEDCOM i can exclude living rellies and therefore grant permission to use only the details i have forwarded. I retain control of the information i want to keep private, there are ways to get the details of the 'private' people but to get that there is a thing called 'research'. Not everyone realises research is an integral part of genealogy, they think a couple of mouse clicks and a quick message gets everything for free. Glen

I think it has hapened to us all at one time or other. I only copy details I can check. I contacted someone recently about some relations we shared and he said 'I am a lazy geneologist. I just copy information from other websites I'm afraid'. Where's the fun in that? I decided I wouldn't open my tree!! I hope you have the hide living people option activated on here. Anne

Hi Maria, Thanks for the reply. The connection is on my Dad's side but they have copied my Mum's side too which I think is not necessary as it bares no connection to them at all. I'll just get off my soap box now and stop complaining. It's just one of them things I suppose!! Grrrrrr!!!! ;-)

You can always mail them and ask them to remove the people who aren't theirs. Trouble with opening your tree, is that they can see everything - even the bits they don't need. I only send bits by email now - in GED format or Text format. That way, I know they're only getting the bits that are relevant to them, and I don't mind them adding it to their tree.

Thanks Tracy, thats just what I thought. I have given access and they have just copied EVERYTHING word for word. I donmt think I would mind if they simply asked. Some of the info is totally irrelevant to them anyway but still they put it on their tree. Just a bit peeved by it really.

Dear Sarah Like you I always check it is ok to copy details. My tree seems to be growing sideways rather than upwards at the moment due to a major brick wall but I only take the details of people with direct links into my tree. For me personally I want to know as much as possible about my family rather than to have hundreds of names that I know nothing about. Best wishes Maria

There are no 'rules' as such, after all the tree was opened to share. Just use common curtesy. Don't copy without asking. Don't take those that don't belong to you. Don't put living people on your tree unless you have asked them. I also always check to make sure that the families I'm getting are correct. So, if they've said they have Joe Bloggs married to Mary Smith in 1848, I check it out and make sure they did.

Just a general query really. When someone gives you access to their tree, whats the general 'rules' on just copying the info without researching it yourself? I haven't done it but it's been done to me in the past. If there is info on someone elses tree that I can use I usually ask if they mind me taking the info. Just wondered what people thought about this in general - especially when they take info that is irrelevant to them???