|
|
|
|
Find or Purchase Public Domain Material
So you want free or cost-effective content, and you don't want to have other people's links on it either? Providing your topic is 'classic', you may be able to find public domain content that you can use for free. 'Classic' topics are timeless, and don't depend on the latest trends and technology.
Public Domain written works are works where copyright has expired, and works that have been explicitly placed in the public domain as copyright free. Public Domain works can be used in virtually any way you choose, and can be modified to make new, unique and copyright content.
In practice, the public domain includes all works first published in the United States before 1923, plus some works published before 1963 (mostly those where a copyright search confirms the copyright was not renewed).
Some public domain content is available for free on the internet (mostly literature). Other ways to find public domain content are to find old books that are out of copyright and scan the material yourself, or to purchase public domain material that someone else has scanned
There are a few drawbacks to using public domain material:
Most public domain work was not originally published in digital format. To obtain a digital copy of a public domain book, it has to be scanned, page-by-page, and the scans need to be edited for accuracy. This can be time consuming, and therefore expensive
There may be very little public domain work of relevance for some niches. Usually there is very litte public domain material for niches relating to current trends and technology, that require current information.
The facts in public domain works may be out of date - you may need to avoid topics that date, update the facts, and/or include a disclaimer.
The language in older public domain works may seem a bit archaic. You need to consider how this fits with the image you want to convey.
Public Domain content is not unique. Others may be using the same material. You might want to rewrite sections of the work, or present it in a fresh context, to counteract this.
Obtaining pubic domain material
You can obtain many public domain works for free from
|