Volunteers may do unlimited lookups if and only if:

1. The lookup volunteer is the actual author and copyright holder of the publication.
2. The lookup volunteer is using primary source documents ... whether they are trekking to the courthouse or using their own Xerox copies of public domain documents.
3. The lookup volunteer has written permission from the author / copyright holder to use their publication for lookups

Volunteers may be able to make certain limited scope lookups in copyrighted publications under the "fair use" provisions of existing law.

Potential volunteers are encouraged to review the explanations of copyright protection, especially the "fair use" provisions, available elsewhere on the Web. volunteers copyright

• To request a lookup from any of the references, click on the name of the owner and ask them politely. Remember, they are volunteers so they don't have to do this. Please remember to say thank you to the volunteer.
• Mention the name of the book in your message. Our volunteers aren't mind-readers & they may not remember which books they volunteered for. Make your requests for lookup limited in scope. "Tell me everything about the Smiths" is probably too broad.
• Researchers should not ask, nor may lookup volunteers offer, to violate copyright laws in responding to requests for lookups in any copyrighted material.

• If you haven't already read it, please go to the US GenWeb Copyrights FAQ Page and read it carefully before you request a lookup or volunteer to do lookups. This page has important information about copyright laws as they apply to the USGenWeb project. http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.