Steve Jones wrote:
 
> > The Ancestry.com service agreement prohibits what you are discussing.
 
> I think this is really very unfair. Several forums have put this
> ancestors.com on as a place to find information.  Why are people
> enticing others to go there, if it is a place you need to PAY for as a
> member to gain complete access. It should not be advertised on any web
> link if its a pay as you go.  It's akin to bait and switch. My opinion.

As to "unfair."  
The forum policy states clearly that it is unacceptable to use the forum for
any illegal activity.  The discussion that was occurring appeared to me to
possibly constitute a conspiracy to violate the service agreement posted on
the Ancestry.com site at http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/signup/terms.htm
which states: 

"Subscriber may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or
sale of, reproduce (except as provided in this section of the Subscriber
Agreement), create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, or in
any way exploit, any of the Content, software, materials, or Service in whole
or in part."

I'm not a policemen, lawyer, or judge, but I don't want any such possibly
improper or illegal discussions taking place in the forum.  If they persist
after I have explicitly warned people not to continue, then I will have few
options other than to report them.  Otherwise, I may be considered complicit
in the conspiracy.  Or, I might have to pay a legal fee just to find out if
there is a problem.

As to free versus paid.  
I only posted information about the FREE databases at ancestry.com.  They
usually offer free databases for a limited time only then put them in the
subscriber only access area.  I did not "entice" anyone and I did not
advertise their service.  I posted a description of the FREE databases and the
links which take you directly to the FREE databases.

I accessed and searched each of the databases that I posted information about
without any demand for payment.  There was no "bait and switch" for any of the
FREE databases links.  Anyone could access them if their browser is up-to-date
and handles forms properly.  Just because they offer many other paid services,
about which I did not post, does not make the FREE services less valuable.

Also, while blatant advertising in the forum is not allowed, there is no
policy prohibiting posting information about paid services.  Any information
that is useful to the study of South Carolina genealogy and related history is
an appropriate topic for discussion in this forum.  It is generally not
acceptable to post announcements or commercials.  But, there is nothing wrong
with posting a meaningful, useful, on-topic message and mentioning either in
the context of the message, or in the signature lines, some relevant
commercial service.  If anyone abuses this and starts sending messages to the
service which are annoying or blatant commercials, then I will take
appropriate action.  That hasn't been a problem yet.

When in doubt, leave it out.

Steven J. Coker
Forum Manager

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