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Can I Really Do Anything I Want With The Books That I Download From Project Gutenberg?

March 9th, 2010 · Public Domain How-To

 A reader sent in a question today about the legalities of using Public Domain texts downloaded from Project Gutenberg.

This question has actually come across the Support Desk a few times this week from some our newer readers so I thought I would answer the question here publicly so that everyone can benefit from the answer.

Here was the original question as received today:

Recently, I bought Amazon Kindle Profits from you. In the book Project Gutenberg is listed as a PD book source. I have downloaded several ebooks from them (full text). With the books there is infomation on Project Gutenberg, that it is a trademark and includes a license and terms of use for distribution of their ebooks. Their license tells you what you can and can’t do with their books. Is permission from them needed to list and sell the books on Kindle?

And a similar version asked earlier…

“I was going over the license and agreement at Gutenberg.org and they said you cannot sell their public domain books, you can download it to read or give away but cannot sell them. Is this true?”

Here’s the answer:

Here’s the deal with Gutenberg. When you download one of their books and open it, if you scroll down a little you’ll find the **The Legal Small Print** section of the document.

I will quote various passages of this legal section below and then add my comments so that you can obtain a better understanding of what can be done with the books that you download from Gutenberg.

Here’s a section from the **The Legal Small Print** section of a document I downloaded just today:

ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS

This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etexts, is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this
etext under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark.Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market any commercial products without permission."

In other words, they acknowledge that the book is in the Public Domain and we can do anything we want with it including repackaging and selling for profit.

They only ask you to follow certain rules if you distribute the text with the PROJECT GUTENBERG trademark still attached – otherwise, you can use the actual text any way you want to.

So here’s what you do (and Gutenberg is okay with this)…

Remove all of the legal disclaimers and anything and everything that has anything to do with PROJECT GUTENBERG – that’s it.

On every text that you download you’ll find a PROJECT GUTENBERG legal disclaimer at the top of the document and sometimes all the way at the end.

Just remove all of this information leaving nothing but the actual Public Domain work intact and then you are free to use it any way you want.

Here’s another section from the **The Legal Small Print** section of the same document:

"DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm"

You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this "Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, or: [1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, if you wish, distribute this [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent form by the program that displays the etext (as is the case, for instance, with most word processors); OR[*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC or other equivalent proprietary form). [2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this "Small Print!" statement.[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the gross profits you derive calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to let us know your plans and to work out the details."

Again, notice in the above text that they tell you that you may do what you want with this text as long as you delete the “Small Print” and all references to Project Gutenberg.

So, you’re free to use documents downloaded from PROJECT GUTENBERG in any manner that you see fit as long as the book is clearly stated as being in the Public Domain.

There are some copyrighted works on PG in which the authors of the books have given PROJECT GUTENBERG the right to distribute but this right does not extend to us – these books you can download and read, but not sell. These books will be clearly marked as being protected by international copyright law.

Additionally, if you live outside of the United States, you may run into a situation where a book on PROJECT GUTENBERG is Public Domain in the U.S. but not outside of it.

With the majority of the Public Domain books on PG this not an issue, but it’s recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the copyright laws work in the country in which you live – either that or just make sure that your websites are hosted in the U.S., but that’s the topic of another discussion (see our report, “The Global Copyright Dilemma” which comes as a free bonus with our book, “The Guide To Public Domain Profits” for more details).

To reinforce my points above and really drive this home even further, I will quote from the “Project Gutenberg License Explained Page” on the PG site:

"These books are in the public domain in the United States and everybody — including Project Gutenberg and you — may read and distribute them. If you don't live in the United States you'll have to check the laws of the country you live in before downloading and distributing our ebooks.A Project Gutenberg ebook is made out of two parts: the public domain book and the non public domain Project Gutenberg trademark and license. If you strip the Project Gutenberg license and all references to Project Gutenberg from the ebook, you are left with a public domain ebook. You can do anything you want with that."

Another thing that I would like to mention is that if you are feeling guilty about “borrowing” Public Domain texts from Project Gutenberg, then feel free to make a donation!

They will gladly accept monetary donations in any amount. Project Gutenberg depends on the time and efforts of devoted volunteers and donations from loyal users like us to survive.

By giving a little back to a Public Domain resource site every time you take, you’ll be helping to ensure that these sites will continue to thrive and continue to provide us with even more great Public Domain works down the road.

Make your mother proud, give a little back (in most cases, this may be considered a tax deduction as well!).

Hope that helps!

Warmly,


For More Information About The Project Gutenberg License, Click Here…

Logan Andrew is an online entrepreneur, information publisher, and author that has been using Public Domain material to create profitable products and businesses since 2001. He is also co-author of "The Guide To Public Domain Profits" available here. For more info Logan, click here.

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How Does MSN Use Public Domain Advertising Images?

March 9th, 2010 · Public Domain How-To

Today – I was on one of my “down the rabbit hole” searches for something online. My original venture today over on MSN was actually because I was using the OCI tool.

Something caught my eye… always dangerous! :)

Advertising Through The Ages – Then… and Now!

I clicked on the link “About this Image”:

See the link for Wikemedia Commons?  Don’t click on it!  (unless you want to find some cool Public Domain Images).

MSN tells why they created this series of banners using Public Domain Images…

“Throughout history, as long as humans have engaged in trade with one another, commercial messages, political displays, product branding and other forms of advertising have been found. Evidence of this is found in all the early human civilizations: political campaign displays in ancient Arabia; sales messages and wall posters on papyrus in Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome; wall and rock painting throughout Asia, Africa, and South America. In the 15th and 16th centuries, with the advent of printing technology, we began to see handbills and eventually daily newspapers.”

“In honor of this timeless process of connecting the advertiser with the consumer, we’ve developed a series of banners that offer a retrospective on “Advertising through the Ages”.

What do you use Public Domain images for?

Tell me – just scroll down and leave a comment…

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l

Debra Conrad is an online entrepreneur, information publisher, and author that has been using Public Domain material to create profitable products and businesses since 2007. She is also co-author of "The Guide To Public Domain Profits" available here. For more info Debra, click here.

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Selling Public Domain eBooks

March 3rd, 2010 · Public Domain How-To

$100 Laptop prototype
Image via Wikipedia

Selling Public Domain eBooks always gives rise to many questions. Just the other day I was asked this question:

Looking for suggestions on what you would suggest to re-write public domain ebooks.

I am looking to have a few Personal Development books re-written allowing me to have intellectual rights over them with my own forward to the ebook (thus giving me copyright over “this” specific ebook – I am not a lawyer, but I think this lingo is correct).

I would also like the ebook to have a good layout with links embedded as well as an e-cover.

This is the “easy” answer:

Glad you asked this question. I have the answers for you.

You are looking for someone who specializes in “re-writing” PLR or Resell Rights products. The work is the same – it’s just using Public Domain content instead of PLR. This is so smart. Using Public Domain has helped me grow my business (by leaps and bounds). I found that I don’t have to rewrite Public Domain content nearly as much as PLR – and still put my personal spin and stamp on the content.

One of the things I usually have to do is find images (pictures) that are more current than those available in the Public Domain content. I just have to cut and replace them. It makes everything look really new and updated.

And yes you have the lingo right!
“(thus giving me copyright over “this” specific ebook – I am not a lawyer, but I think this lingo is correct).”

If you have any questions at all about finding or using Public Domain content don’t hesitate to ask… They don’t call me “THAT Public Domain Diva” for nuthin’. LOL

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About the Author:

Debra Conrad is an online entrepreneur, information publisher, and author that has been using Public Domain material to create profitable products and businesses since 2007. She is also co-author of "The Guide To Public Domain Profits" available here. For more info Debra, click here.

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Automated Email Marketing – My Challenges With Newsletter Lists

March 2nd, 2010 · Case Studies, It's Your Business

 

I use Aweber to “run” all myautomated email marketing lists… and love it! So easy to use and rarely (in 5 years) a hiccup.

I’ve had to really think about what challenges I have with newsletter lists… like JackieLee I already have a list for thatpainterlady.com with over 5000 subscribers. They are not “buyers” however… Of course I really am pretty bad about “selling” to them.

I send this list a 7 part ecourse and of course a weekly (sometimes 2 times a week) chatty email with a link to a blog post.

The list I have for customers who buy my own faux finish video products has been broken for some time. I mean – the customer doesn’t get on that list. This is something I’ve got to fix – I have a new product coming out in the next few days.

Of course I would send an offer to my regular email list… but the conversion rate would be better with a list of “already buying” customers.

And —- eek. Unlike Jackie – my new blog (the one I am using for a case study related to Public Domain) doesn’t have a mailing list sign up. I’ll have to ponder that… do I really “REALLY” want to start another list.

TIP - I’ve recently started to actually put a link in blog posts to the sign-up page. I put the link in a “chatty” part of the post… such as “One of my newsletter subscribers had this question…” putting the “newsletter” as a link. Duh… why didn’t I do that – like years ago?

What I’m soooo bad at is getting a huge load of old newsletter emails loaded into the auto responder. This was a goal of my last year. I wanted to give my “NEW” subscribers the chance to read some of the old newsletters… which eventually would lighten up the workload for me…

It’s so important to NOT let your lists grow dormant….

Good Grief – I’m all over the map with this challenge. I need to focus on what goals I actually have for list-building.

My goals are:

  • List out all my lists and make sure they are “ALL” currently getting constant updates.
  • Get the “customer list” working on auto-pilot. (AGAIN)
  • Plan a specific amount of time each week to get the auto-responder loaded up with old newsletters.
  • Ponder – evaluate – If I should have lists on “ALL” my blogs. (huge variety of niches)… and for those that “deserve” my attention… set up the list and the auto-responder series. Oh and come up with my “freebie” giveaway using Public Domain content.

I have several articles related to automated email marketing:

Newsletter Campaigns Using Public Domain Content

15 Ways To Use Auto Responders

Managing Your Opt In Lists

What are your email marketing challenges? List them in a reply and we will try to get you “Focused”. We all need to stop wasting time and use our automated email marketing to increase conversions!

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About the Author:

Debra Conrad is an online entrepreneur, information publisher, and author that has been using Public Domain material to create profitable products and businesses since 2007. She is also co-author of "The Guide To Public Domain Profits" available here. For more info Debra, click here.

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Should You Sell Physical Or Digital Products (Or Both)?

March 1st, 2010 · Case Studies

Image via Wikipedia

Whhhoooo Wheee! I’m getting some great questions today… and this one is a doooozy!  This friend want’s to know if she should switch to selling (marketing) digital products instead of selling physical products as an affiliate…

And then – she get’s even deeper and thinks maybe she should have a slew of her own digital products to sell. And… then… set them all up so that “affiliates” could sell her products.

WoW zeers. That’s a 10 million dollar question!

Well – I’ll let you read it right here:

Debra

I am nearly convinced that I need to move my online marketing towards a business that markets information products instead of physical products.

I’ve been thinking this for some time. I’ve been  encouraged  to stick with the site that I have, but. . . I’m  hearing ONLY about information products marketing.

Some of the direct advice I’ve been given is that I should give up physical product affiliate sales unless I could wait 2-3 years for any real income and wanted to sell products that retailed at $500-$1000.

I’m considering doing small reports and selling them for income.

For those that do well, try to expand the information into larger ebooks. Sell those through affiliates.

Really, I’m not sure what I’m thinking.

Your use of Public Domain material seems more likely to give me tools towards a direction of information marketing. With a result of income in the immediate future – not 3 years down the road.

I’d very much appreciate your thoughts on all of this – Unlike so many, you seem to have a good, solid, profitable business and, obviously, a good head for business.

You’ve also been very generous with your time and advice  (for which I again say, THANK YOU), and I believe that you know your s*#t. I also trust you to be honest.

See what I mean? What a question!!! But this gal… knows – I am “Always” honest and sometimes a bit harsh with critiques of content, websites and overall I just tell most everyone to put their “Big Girl Panties On and Do Something!”…

So… I guess she came to the right person – If – she wants honest!

What does being honest mean to me? Well – it means two things to me (concerning this topic):

1. I will tell it like it is “For Me” – which means – I don’t give facts, figures and mumbo jumbo that are not “TRUE”.
2. I will try to help her figure out “where” she really needs to focus (because you know I’m the Find-Focus-Finish Gal) and get off the hump of “thinking about it all”.

Here we go… hang on to your britches….

Remember – this is how “I” see this… of course I am not one of the “rich” people making a ton of money online! Nope… but I am making enough (finally) to see a real difference in our budget and each year my accountant says “what are you doing again? and how do you make all this profit?”  LOL… no one understands – unless you “just do it”.

First – Where Did (name guru) get the idea that you had to wait 3 years and only sell high ticket items to make a living online??? I guess it depends on what type of income you are shooting for. If you are shooting to make $50,000 this year… well you better get some snake oil and hit the streets.

Second – I know (because I’m smart that way) that this gal can make money online. Duh… anyone can. If  -IF – they put in the time and effort and really apply what they learn along the way.

Third - I don’t know why anyone has to Choose Between Selling Physical Or Digital Products.

Forth - You can sell Physical – and – Digital products as an affiliate AND sell your own products… all at the same time. That is exactly what I do!!!

Okay… now for some juicy stuff.

I know what the niche is that this gal is working in. What I can tell you is this… I think she is trying to set up an Amazon.com type store (but only in one niche). That’s not really the whole picture – but it’s the BIG picture I can share.

She is frustrated and has spent time and money chasing after this “thing” – that isn’t really clear in her head to begin with.  Not that this type of site is a BAD idea… far from it. But …..  I don’t have any sites like this “store” type site and I don’t want to… to much work – and you know I do work (like a dog) but I still like the work to come easy.

What am I going to suggest that she do? I mean she “Isn’t sure what she is thinking” right now... which means she has hit a “frustration point” and is ready to throw in the towel and go get a J.O.B.!!!  NOOOOO…. I’ve go to help her “figure out what to do next… and then next … and then next.  Right? You betcha.

Take A Deep Breath…. Close Your Eyes…. Breath…. (sounds like therapy huh?)  and think of exactly what you want to do. Not – NOT – NOT!!! What someone else (including me) thinks you should do.

One of the things I learned early on (well several things)….

  • I didn’t want to be a “GURU” and try to sell all the crap I could find to market.
  • I didn’t want to make millions and have employees and a big “physical” office.
  • I needed to keep a visual of what I was working towards… my ultimate (BIG Picture) goal.  I want to retire on the beach in Mexico – Someday – but the place must have Wireless Internet Connections!!!
  • I want to be able to “connect” with people in a meaningful way. I mean personally “connect” with them.  This means I had to commit to answering lot’s of questions and emails. :)
  • I needed to stop learning and start doing. (And stop getting distracted by every new “shiny object” that dropped into my inbox.
  • I absolutely had to find a mentor.
  • I also absolutely had to find a partner. Y’all know that Logan isn’t my husband – Right? He’s my business partner (in crime).
  • I’ve had to learn how to “complete” projects. How many projects have you started that are not “complete”? That many huh?  Yeah me too… still working on getting that part right – every time.

What am I going to suggest???? Should You Sell Physical or Digital Products (Or Both)? -  You know the answer to that already… right?  Of course you should sell (market) both. I think everyone should know how to do it all!!!

The point to this conversation is really not the question of Physical vs. Digital products.

I believe that a much deeper question is being asked of me…

Where do I go from here? And How Do I Get There???
(or their – spelling is Not on of my strong suits).

One other question was asked of me (same gal)…

She is interested in learning how to work with Public Domain and Google Blogs to make little income streams.  She isn’t sure if she should!

Again – Two ways to look at this:

1. She hasn’t really “finished” the website she is working on now… and should really finish that site (take it to profit).

2. When you have had “enough” of a project – sometimes it’s a good idea to start over with something new and learn new ways to do “stuff”… and then go back to the original project with a fresh outlook.

On a personal note: I’ve set up and spent money and effort and time on more websites than I will “EVER” want to admit. Most of them are looong gone.  I didn’t have a clue what I was doing… and what I was doing – I was doing wrong.

Nuff said.

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About the Author:

Debra Conrad is an online entrepreneur, information publisher, and author that has been using Public Domain material to create profitable products and businesses since 2007. She is also co-author of "The Guide To Public Domain Profits" available here. For more info Debra, click here.

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