If you read the article, Reclaim The Records filed a FOIL (NY state version of FOIA) request for the records, which were stored on microfilm. The state quoted $150k for the request -- you still need to pay to have copies made. The group thought the state's quote was too large. Then Ancestry.com comes in, pays for the microfilm to be digitized, and the state tells the group "nevermind, we can do it for free now."<p>And this is the evidence that bad things are going on, somehow. The records group got the copies faster than if Ancestry.com hadn't gotten involved, and didn't have to pay for the.
If you enjoyed reading this story, which is about our fifth Freedom of Information lawsuit, you might also enjoy reading about our eighth and newest lawsuit, which we just filed against the parent agency of the New York City Municipal Archives a few days ago:<p><a href="https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-request/22/" rel="nofollow">https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/records-request/22/</a><p>Teaser: “Welcome to the single stupidest lawsuit that our organization has ever had to file.<p>Alternately, we could subtitle this story <i>let’s all gather round and watch the NYC Department of Records light taxpayer money on fire!</i>”
Never heard of reclaim the records until now. What they are doing is amazing!<p>I was even moved to donate, even though I have no US ancestry ("Donation Confirmation Thank you for supporting Reclaim The Records!")
Ancestry developed relationships with many archival sources for a damn good reason. They have developed non trivial processes, equipment, and trained staff that treat the records with care. When I worked there it was a badge of honor for their document processing division that they were the only entity essentially allowed to just walk into the National Archives and take whatever they wanted to digitize, because they were known and trusted to return the extraordinarily fragile documents unharmed. Reputation matters. Presumably the cost that the plaintiff incurred was a form of insurance or "are you really seriously sure you have the capital to treat this stuff with care?"<p>I am not a lawyer and I might be making it all up.
"suspects".<p>I did not read the article because of this.<p>The internet slanders many based on only suspicion.<p>I suspect that we are not alone in the universe. I suspect that Elvis might still be alive. But I have no proof.<p>Get some proof.<p>I'm not going to write some article stating Elvis is still alive and pass it off as fact.