Money Making Methods of Using Public Domain Works
Here you’ll learn about a number of methods you can use to profit from the public domain. Some are more involved than others, but a general rule of thumb is: the more effort you put into your presentation, the better the reward you will reap.
Some purveyors of public domain programs would have you believe their methods will make you an instant millionaire. Don’t fall for it. It is quite possible to turn a healthy profit from public domain works—as long as you are armed with enough knowledge about the process, and you’re willing to invest some time into building your fortune.
Remember to choose a project that you have some personal interest in. You will be ealing extensively with your materials, performing prep work, marketing and sales. There is nothing less convincing than a salesperson who is obviously bored to tears with his or her own presentation. A bit of passion goes a long way toward success.
Think the public domain fortune is a myth? The following examples illustrate the incredible potential in this powerful and largely untapped field.
Famous Fortunes Made From Public Domain Works
Many people have made comfortable livings repackaging and selling public domain works.
Here are two of the most famous and successful:
Walt Disney
That’s right: the “magic man” himself took advantage of copyright-free creations to construct his fortune and bring joy to the world. A dreamer from childhood, Walt Disney built his billion-dollar empire of beloved characters, movies and theme parks from a public domain source: the immortal fairy tales of the Grimm Brothers.
These wonderful stories entered the public domain, and Disney essentially copied them, changing a few of the characters’ names and “modernizing” them (and rewriting for a happy ending, of course). What resulted was a magical world known and loved the world over…and plenty of profit for Walt.
Ted Turner
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) cable network grosses millions a year in advertising dollars alone—and Ted Turner pays a fraction of the costs other stations must shell out in royalties and viewing fees. Why? Almost every movie shown on TCM is in the public domain. A shrewd businessman, Turner saw an opportunity to broadcast classic movies to a new generation and simultaneously turn over an enormous profit by breaking into public domain distribution.