'' Ancestry '' Monopoly of public info

[ivor43]

Hi all.

As some of you are aware i do some research with regard to Family Histories etc.During a recent search i have kept coming up against, Ancestry's ''you want the info, you have to pay''. This is for the privilege of accessing what should be Public Information. Even the USA's National Archives info is controlled by them. I find this totally ridiculous. For the amount i would use it i can not justify the cost. I have the feeling that i am not alone in this.
Now, i was wondering, Would it be possible for the Forum to have membership on behalf of it's members. I would certainly be prepared to donate to this membership.
ideas please.

ivor.

[ap1]

It wouldn't work. In time the password would possibly become to widely known and the account details potentially open to abuse.
One way of doing it, is to share the fee with a small number of other members you trust, who are prepared to chip in annually. We've done other things like this….The Forum Lottery for example has been running for about 10yrs, with no issues. It's just getting the right group of supportive members and doing it privately. Ultimately though on Ancestry someone will need to enter their payment/credit card details and hand over the money.

[Jerry B]

I only just last week stopped paying my Ancestry subscription as it is only when I pick up a new medal that I used it and only having picked up two in the last few months it seemed a lot of money if I don't use it enough. I still have the account so can look up MIC's for free but any more than that would involve paying a fee.

It does seem unfair that one company owns the rights to so much of our heritage.

Not sure if its any good to you but find my past is free for the next 3 days.


http://www.findmypast.co.uk/freeweek...FW116-22116-XS

[ivor43]

hi.
Thanks Jerry. interesting site. but sadly doesn't tell me any more than i already knew. But i will be using it for my own F/H this weekend.

thanks

ivor