Find A Grave question?

[Mike Serpa]

Ancestry dotcom now owns findagrave dotcom. Does Ancestry dotcom sell information it got from the purchase of findagrave dotcom?

Thanks.

 

[DixieRifles]

Ancestry bought out Find-A-Grave!! I had not heard that. Ancestry may have a search engine that searches the Find-a-Grave site but not actually own it.

If they did, I would say they don't directly sale it. It would probably be easier to search the info which would make Ancestry more attractive.

 

[rbasin]

Just looking at the Find-A-Grave site, I don't see anything about Ancestry.com. I don't think Ancestry.com has a link to it. And if Ancestry could make money on it, you know they'd sell info.

 

[donna]

Ancestry did acquire Find a Grave on Sept. 30, 2013. They stated at time it would continue to be free. I hope they don't change their position.

For some time when you went to Ancestry find a grave links would be listed. They say this easier for them now that they own find a grave.

 

[yankee hoorah]

I dearly hope that it reamains free.
I don't have money at my age to be useing these sites.
I use only Familysearch, and Find a Grave.

 

[AndyHall]

Find-a-grave entries now come up in Ancestry user searches. It allows Ancestry users to automatically import basic data from Find-a-grave into their family trees (see below), and also provides a link to the page on Find-a-grave.

I don't know of any changes made to Find-a-grave, but I don't use that, that often. As far as I can see, they still function as independent websites.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Thanks for your replies. I, like millions of others, spent a lot of time researching and posting. I posted with the thought that someone might find useful information about a family member even though I could care less about genealogy. I wouldn't like Ancestry dot com making money off my effort and time that were given freely.

 

[donna]

I go to Find A Grave all the time and there have been no changes since Ancestry bought them.

 

[John Winn]

I was a long-time active member in Find A Grave and documented two local historic cemeteries there.

As has been stated, they are wholly owned by Ancestry although by agreement management of Find A Grave is by the original owner and creator of the site and it remains free for the user.

As to selling info, it's a little complicated but in short if you post on Find A Grave you give them the legal right to publish whatever you posted (e.g. photos). So, if you are one who is concerned about copyrights, make sure you understand that by participating there you have given them rights. When Ancestry took over a number of older members removed all their memorials or photos for that reason. So while they aren't likely going to sell your work directly they are marketing it in a way.

I was never worried about photos I took of markers but I did remove a few family photos. I still think it's a good site in general and a great resource for genealogists (although as with anything open to the public without review there are many errors). I received a number of thank yous from people who found a lost ancestor through one of my memorials and I found a number of my folk when I was researching the family.