Limitation on using familysearch.org?

Question

I've been using familysearch.org without registering - just finding census records, etc. I've been using them to refine dates, get detailed lists of siblings, etc. And I've been using the citations given by familysearch in my source sections.

Today I got into a new part of familysearch.org that required me to sign up for a free membership. When doing so I had to read the terms and conditions. There I found a prohibition to copying information from their site to other places. I am not a lawyer, but it appeared to me that it *might* prohibit the sort of use I have. But I gather that it is a major source for this site, so presumably it isn't prohibited.

Can someone explain what usage from there is/isn't permitted here, and (roughly) why that is allowed?

Comments

And now that you have registered you will find that you can download the results of a search of their collections (not their family tree) to Excel. That's a handy feature for registered users.

Answer 1

If you use their citations and link to their information you are OK. The only time there could be a problem is if you just copy and paste information from any site onto here. The information, names and dates, can not be copyrighted but the exact wording can so it is always best to put the information into your own words and cite where you got the information from. The bottom line is it is fine to use the information as long as you put it in your own words and cite your source but copying images or even the exact index information they post would probably not be advised.

Answer 2

you are allowed to use the citations that familysearch.org provides, or why would they provide them? That way you are linking to their info, not copying.

Answer 3

Just a comment..., They're getting a lot of man hours for connecting names and trees. They've been well known for connecting family for 100's of years and I use them to cite my information I add too. I won't pay for any family tree source that should be public knowledge(Ancestry) Nor, will I ever profit from the information. Wikitree is a free site and affiliated with family search (somehow) and I think that's were it make it okay, in regards to how I use familysearch..