What are public domain works? I will define it very simply as a specific body of intellectual property, books, images, music, movies and photographs whose copyright have expired or it wasn’t copyrighted before are now officially regarded as “public domain” which belongs to the public. So anyone can pick it and use it the way they like or choose. So it is worth knowing about public domain because it can give you some extra cash or even a fortune.
Now each country as it’s guideline to determine if a work is in the public domain but let’s look at that of the United States in summary.
1. If a work was published in the United States anytime before 1923, is ns now regarded as public domain
2. Any work published in the United States between 1923 and 1978, without a valid copyright notice, is now in the public domain.
3. Any work published in the United States between 1978 and March 1 1989, without a notice and registration is now regarded as public domain.
4. Any work published in the United States between 1923 and 1963 with a copyright notice that was not renewed is regarded as public domain.
Any work that does not go with this rules are not in the public domain like works published or created after march 1, 1989, works published between 1923 and 1963 with a copyright notice that was renewed, works published between 1963 and march 1,1989 with a valid copyright notice are not in the public domain so don’t play with them without the authors permission. Before you start using any work that you may think is in the public domain, use the above rules to confirm and also look for the copyright notice of the work, before you run into problems.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND THESE PUBLIC DOMAIN WORKS?0
Yes since they are public domain works, then why are they hiding you can’t find them. The answer is they are not hiding I will show you how to find easily. Just try a search with Google, yahoo, AltaVista, msn. Search on the following phrase,
Public domain work examples
List of free public domain works
Public domain examples
If the same title shows up in multiple searches then that should domain. You could equally join forum which are interested in public domain works, you can try a search on “public domain forums”. Here are some links to some public domain resources sites:
Authorama: it features extensive list of public domain resources with links to the original text you can download or print right from the website.
classicbooks : A free online library featuring literary and genre novels in public domain.
Retro Film : This site provide catalogue of public domain movie. It serves television broadcast and not individual but it’s a good place where you can track titles to search for somewhere else.
You can try paid list/reseller programs though it cost money, it saves time and you can be certain that you are given quality list of public domain works. You can try;
www.publicdomainempire.com
Wow Content Club
Now that you have gotten you work you have to put it in the current format for resale. May be you can edit, update the copy and sell revised edition of the copy with your own copyright notice, put it in an eBook format for electronic distribution, put your music in mp3 format and you can even sell you revised edition on eBay. Wow! What an easy way to make cash with other people’s products. Just give it a try. You can get an eBook writer for free at openoffice or primopdf and get you books in eBook format very easily. Yeah it’s still me have fun. Sukmama Akpanusong
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