Public domain - Can it be sold?

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Works that are in the public domain can be sold as-is, or with your personalizing touches. I believe your published version can be copyrighted if you have changed the original by 20%. There was a fantastic WSO offered a while ago, it's at home, so I can't tell you who it was, right now, that put it up. It has a great explanation of public domain, and huge lists of public domain authors, where to go to find PD works, etc. I will post the name of the product tomorrow, if no one has beaten me to it.

I have a hard copy book that also describes PD, and gives the name of two law firms the author double checks the work with. I will bring that info tomorrow as well.

That thread was started by Kneb Knebaih and it was excellent. I'm sure
its archived.

Tom

excellent WSO by Kneb.
I actually stopped buying WSO after I bought his.

Hi.

The beauty of public domain material is that you can make it your own. e.g. you can alter the title, change the text add pictures, diagrams and anything else you feel will benefit the overall quality of the product.
Charlie

PD can be edited, sold or you can do virtually anything with it.

See my site (sig). I'm giving my members 4 PD packages every month.

It is my understanding that PD can be hanged, sold, and if you make significant changes to it, the totality of the entire work can be copyrighted. The key is adding value to the PD content which addresses or differentiates your offering from another.

Thanks guys! Very informative information. I have never used public domain works but it looks like there can be some $

Once again, thanks!

I don't see where anyone mentioned this, but I believe most government reports, pamphlets, etc. are also public domain. Correct me if I'm wrong...:rolleyes:

I love Public Domain. In fact, it's sort of what got me started online

Roughly 15 years ago I wrote a children's story... it was a modernized version of "Sir Gawain and The Green Knight". A few years after that I discovered the online world and My idea at the time was to package the book into some sort of digital form, and sell it online (what we now call an 'ebook' but it didn't exist back then)

These days I release occasional products created from government materials. Usually I create a unique compilation or package but sometimes I'll completely rewrite the content into something new too.

I believe that even if you don't change much text, if you format it into an ebook with distinctive layout and design, that is enough to copyright it.

The book I was thinking of that has a section on how to use Public Domain materials, and specifically a couple of law outfits to double check the copyright status is: Moonlighting on the Internet by Yanik Silver

Kneb Knebaih has proven that someone can be rich by selling public domain.

Is it allowed to change the title of a public domain product and sell it? so nobody knows the real title...

Anyone know if it is still available?

I went to the link posted by bizideas and found it, but the PayPal is in Spanish!

Actually, you have to watch it. PD works can be seeded with original content, or even PD content in a unique way, and become COPYRIGHTED!

And Project gutenberg is not 100% PD. SURE, most of those works STARTED OUT PD, but they want credit. And Project gutenberg, of course, doesn't have ALL PD works. PD works have no current license, but look at the PG license:


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Steve

I also recommend Kneb's WSO - some nice sources there

From a legal perspective the best resource - bar none - is the NOLO book: The Public Domain: How to Find & Use Copyright-Free Writings, Music, Art & More

You can find it on Amazon.

I have sold HUNDREDS of PD products from books, magazines, Government & Military (yes they are an AMAZING source).

IMHO the value of what you sell is related to how "difficult" it is to source the product. If it is freely available on Gutenberg (for example) then the value is lower than if it doesn't exist anywhere online in digital format. Or if you can put it in a new format (think images, photos, posters etc) you can increase the value. The key to the big bucks (again IMHO) is to not do the "easy" stuff. Take a little time and effort and you can reap big rewards

Also look for evergreen niches. For example I have researched some people making a killing of blacksmith & metelworking material from the late 1800's/early 1900's...who would have thunk it?

Simon

I always thought the public domain works for music standards
would be the same for any other pd works.
You people have given me lots of reading to do this Sunday.

When I click on Kneb Knebaih WSO, it goes to the page without any link to purchase his pdf. Someone please help let me know the active link, or where can I find his WSO, or his direct email. God bless you.

It is important to consider using the pd material and creating your own spin on it. I have used pd literature and appended reading strategies and my books are starting to sell nicely. I think that this is due to the fact that I am one of the first (if not the first) to have done this.

Ultimately, you want to find the pd material you are looking for, MAKE SURE that it is in the public domain, and then find a way to make it unique.

Yet another thread filled with total malarkey and bad legal advice given by people who have little to no knowledge of the public domain and copyright law.

Its better not to give advice at all than to give wrong legal advice. You are not helping anyone when you do.

I wish there was a "NO THANKS" button because some people posting to this thread deserve it.

If you are a new here and reading this thread just be aware that "Thanks" means nothing to the credibility of a post. Its just a way for people to express themselves without posting replies just to say thanks.

Once something is in the public domain it is always in the public domain and if it is truly public domain you can do whatever you want with it... sell it, use it as toilet paper etc.

There is no magical % of change that makes it so you can copyright the portions of a work that are already in the public domain.

And don't think I am singling you out... there are plenty of just as bad replies in this thread... or even worse.

Folks the best thing you can do is ignore any legal advice you get in the warrior forum and consult a lawyer... or at least pick up a book written by an attorney who specializes in the public domain and copyright law so that you can properly educate your selves:

The Public Domain - Law Books - Nolo

If you get that book you will never need to post another legal question about the public domain in the warrior forum again. You will have more knowledge at your fingertips than 99% of all the public domain gurus in the internet marketing world combined.

Then the only questions you will need to post to the WF is "Anyone got some tips on places to dig for public domain gold?"

Beware though... a lot of people throw around the term "public domain" on the internet referring to works that are NOT truly in the public domain.

Ancientone, I am very interested in receiving the information you have available. Please provide it here or send me a PM.

Thanks in advance.