by IMDESTROYER Banned
15 replies
if you are writing content out of a book and your basically manually spinning it and trying to change up as much as possible but the content is still in the same sequence in which the author wrote it. Can i get in trouble?

EXAMPLE
the book says that i can copy and redistribute its work but it also says that i am not allowed to alter any of it. How will they know if i did that and prove it, if i am using different words and different structure? can i still get in trouble for that?


I read once in a ad sense niche book that the guy who wrote it basically does the same thing.
#copy #question #write
  • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
    I think you are asking a question about Copyright issues, not Copy Writing.
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    • Profile picture of the author IMDESTROYER
      Banned
      Originally Posted by AnniePot View Post

      I think you are asking a question about Copyright issues, not Copy Writing.
      thats nice....
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      • Profile picture of the author salegurus
        Originally Posted by IMDESTROYER View Post

        thats nice....
        She was only trying to help you out since you don't know the difference....
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      • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
        Originally Posted by IMDESTROYER View Post

        thats nice....
        If you come on a forum wanting advice, it's probably best not to take this passive aggressive tone with someone who is trying to help you.

        There is a huge difference between 'copy write' and 'copyright.'

        If you want to write a book, little details are important, as is being able to take advice and constructive criticism.
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude
    Annie's right. It's a copyright issue not copy writing. Copyrights are what rights are given to a person and which ones are reserved for the creator of the product.

    If it's any good, there was a lot of research and work that went into the material. If I understand you right, you're asking if you can use the material as a seed to spin it (reword it) into something you can claim is yours.

    Probably nothing will happen to you from a legal perspective but Karma is not something to play around with in my opinion. Do your own research and write your own material. Better yet, contact the owner of the material you're interested in and cut a deal for reprint and editing rights.

    Your integrity is something that should never be put into question. Doing what you're asking may technically be legal but I for one do not consider it ethical.
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  • Profile picture of the author BradVert2013
    Don't just spin old content or rehash it. It almost always ends up being crappy, and there are copyright issues to consider. Write something new and engaging. Take the time to do some research so you can write a well thought out book. Don't take any shortcuts. It's your integrity and reputation on the line, so think carefully about how you approach this.
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  • Profile picture of the author TerriL
    I personally would NOT spin someone else's content. Getting ideas and building on them is one thing, simple copying their work using difference verbiage generally becomes 'rehashed' garbage and has little chance of success.

    Read the book, expand upon the concepts, formulas, or go beyond what the author has already accomplished... (*maybe even reference his/her materials) and create fresh new insights.

    Seeing AnniePot is a long standing member and contributor here, I'd have to agree 'being receptive' to feedback - will get you a lot further.

    Especially when you are asking questions about 'authoring a book' and don't know the difference between copywriting and copyrights.
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    You can get ideas from the book but never copy the content.

    The book will give you ideas, but you should put your own thoughts into it.
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  • Profile picture of the author IMDESTROYER
    Banned
    Im just trying to write a niche site to sell one product, its unnecessary to spend a week studying if i can spend that week being more productive. I just wanted to know the legal outputs. Thanks everyone.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sue Calhoun
      Yes it's illegal. Using for research is not. That doesn't mean people don't do it all the time. Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ean Stark
    Well, you're sort of not so good at asking nicely for feee advice on a forum.
    To answer your question, just take the ideas and mix them with yours.

    Best,
    Ean
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  • Profile picture of the author thebert
    Questions of Karma and value aside, the answer to your question is a simple 'yes'. Whether or not it's legal would be a matter for the courts.

    The question that could be put to you is very, very straightforward:
    Did you, or did you not, use someone else's work it it's entirety?

    You haven't pulled a couple of sentences for a quote or a reference, we're talking paraphrasing the entire thing. As in from beginning to end.

    You may not agree with everyone, but we're trying to be helpful. Be kind. It tends to come around...
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  • Profile picture of the author davidaclark
    Originally Posted by IMDESTROYER View Post

    if you are writing content out of a book and your basically manually spinning it and trying to change up as much as possible but the content is still in the same sequence in which the author wrote it. Can i get in trouble?

    EXAMPLE
    the book says that i can copy and redistribute its work but it also says that i am not allowed to alter any of it. How will they know if i did that and prove it, if i am using different words and different structure? can i still get in trouble for that?


    I read once in a ad sense niche book that the guy who wrote it basically does the same thing.
    If you must do this, just take a couple of keywords from each sentence and put them in a new document. Then completely rewrite the whole thing in your own words as though it was new content. Do not look back at the original document while doing this.
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    • Profile picture of the author PCH
      My take on this would be to just use the original book as a source of idea flow if that makes sense.

      I'd then re-write the entire thing, but also use the ideas to google additional information, and also visit forums to gather more information to add to the idea flow.

      Plus you can add great pro graphics on the front and elsewhere is appropriate.

      And if you do this properly and take time to do a great job, your book will end up being better than the original and in no way traceable as the point of origin.

      Hope that helps
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