I would be ecstatic if I were even lucky enough to get a publisher to take my book on the first six generations of descendants of James Rampley, who died in Harford County, Maryland in 1817. However, this publisher is not going to double-check every name, date, and place I have in the book. While genealogy is admittedly a more popular avocation than ever, my Rampley book will have a decidedly limited market. If I want it thoroughly edited, I will either have to do it myself or pay someone else to do it for me. It should be said that it is hoped that electronic publishers of data do not intentionally reprint materials that are known to have significant numbers of errors.
Genealogists are fortunate to live in such an age.
Individuals who find erroneous information always have an obligation to themselves and their descendants to correct this information. But perhaps the most important obligation is to those ancestors whose information is incorrect. Users of any information who notice errors should completely document why they think the information is incorrect and consider submitting their findings to appropriate genealogical journals for possible publication. They should make certain that their own genealogical records document the findings that contradict the printed ones, and consider submitting their information to appropriate local historical and genealogical societies, along with their documentation. They should consider creating their own genealogical web site, containing their conclusions, complete with documentation.