How to Profit From Public Domain Information

In the United States, public domain materials can be repackaged and resold at a profit.

Content that is not copyrighted and that anyone is free to modify and resell is said to be in the public domain. In the United States, a large amount of material is in the public domain, covering topics ranging from bodybuilding to gardening to raising iguanas as pets. This material can hold potential profit for anyone willing to find it, sort through it, repackage it in a way that others find useful and connect it with buyers over the Internet. Using a variety of Internet tools, you can easily search for and identify materials that are in the public domain.

Instructions

1. Brainstorm and compose a list of topics you're interested in that hold appeal to broad segments of the population. Narrow down your list to topics in which people pay to learn information about, such as real estate, sales, self-defense and language learning.

2. Brainstorm and compose a list of topics that are less broad in their appeal but about which some people are passionate and are willing to pay money to learn more about. Topics with less broad appeal but high demand include specific hobbies or skills, such as indoor gardening and woodworking.

3. Find materials in the public domain for the topics you brainstormed. All materials produced by government organizations are in the public domain. Browse the websites of these agencies (Resources 1) and look for documents that apply to the topics you brainstormed.

   Browse Internet booksellers, such as Alibris (alibris.com), that allow you to search for works by date of publication. All books published prior to 1923 are also in the public domain. Search stores in your area specializing in selling used books. Look for documents and books with information applying to the topics you previously brainstormed.

   Films and music created prior to 1923 are also in the public domain. Look through the listings of public domain films on OpenFlix (openflix.com) and public domain music on Public Domain Music (pdmusic.org) to identify works that may be in the public domain, then look for these works at your local library and in video or record shops specializing in older works. You can re-edit films. You can also record music yourself or sell the sheet music.

4. Modify or package the content in a way that appeals to its target audience.

   Scan books into your computer and convert them to text. Clean up and modernize the language or add your own text to clarify unclear concepts. Save the repackaged content as a PDF file.

   Copy films and music onto your computer. Convert the music to MP3 format and burn it onto CDs. Copy films onto DVDs.

5. Sell your repackaged content through Internet marketplaces such as eBay (ebay.com) or Craigslist (craigslist.org). Create your own website and sell your content directly to consumers as an e-book for texts, an audio download for music or a video download for films. You do not have to advertise that the work is derived from content in the public domain.

Tips & Warnings

• Ensure your film is an unmodified, pre-1923 version of the film before reselling it. Pre-1923 films that have been modified in any way after 1923, such as by the addition of a soundtrack or by editing the film, may still be protected under copyright.

• Pre-1923 music that has been recorded after 1923 may be protected under copyright, since the copyright applies to the musical interpretation or the piece, not the piece itself.

• If you are unsure about whether a certain item is in the public domain or not, consult with a lawyer specializing in copyright law.

References

• CNN Money; Free and Easy; Paul Sloan; March 2007
• The New York Times; On eBay, Some Profit by Selling What's Free; David Gallagher; December 2007
• University of California; Public Domain; May 2003
• Selling Books; Public Domain Books -- Reuse Them for Profit; Cathy Stucker
• Public Domain Music: Info, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• OpenFlix: U.S. Copyright Rules

Resources

• USA.gov: A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies
• Alibris: Alibris: Used Books, Used Textbooks, Rare & Out-of-Print Books
• eBay: eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more
• Craigslist: Classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community and events
• OpenFlix: Public Domain Movies
• Public Domain Music: Public Domain Music