In this post you will learn what the Creative Commons is and why emerging authors are using it to promote their books.

The Creative Commons allows writers to reserve some rights and grant others. It is flexible, fair and allows your ideas to spread much faster. It lowers the friction for sharing that can help your book spread like a virus. Remember piracy is not your enemy. Obscurity is.

Imagine if Bible study leaders around the country copied chapter 4 of your book and discussed it on Wednesday night. That would be a huge win for you. By allowing them to share non commercially you have just turned them into your evangelists. And all for free.

How the Creative Commons Works Video

Here is a quick video that explains how the creative commons works.

Creative Commons has several components that you can mix and match:

This is a Creative Commons logo. It tells your readers “some rights reserved.”

This attribution icon comes with every creative commons license. It means that your readers must give you credit.

This “non commercial” logo tells your readers they are welcome to share your work as long as they don’t do it for profit.

This “non derivative” logo means that your readers are not allowed to change your work. Consider leaving this off just to see what people do with it.

This “share alike” logo means that if someone uses your work in thiers they must use the creative commons too.

What do you think?

Do you agree that it is smart to allow people to share and even remix your work? Does the the idea scare you? Leave a comment and let us know.

Related posts:

1. 5 Ways to Keep Your Book From Rotting in a Paper Prison
2. Authors: Piracy is Not Your Enemy
3. Why Your Blog Should Be Your Book’s First Draft
4. How to Get Your Book on Virtual Shelves
5. Why Copyrights Hurt Authors

In 1977 my great grandfather wrote a book. A few years later he passed away. No one in my family knows who inherited the copyright.

If a publisher wanted to reprint the book or make it available online they need permission to avoid breaking the law. But who should they ask? The copyright does not expire until 2052 so the problem will only intensify as his descendants multiply.

My great grandfather’s book is rotting in a paper prison. Unless you’re careful  your book may be orphaned as well.

How to Escape the Paper Prison:

#1 Own the Copyright in Your Name

This is essential. If your publisher owns the copyright, what will happen when the company is purchased, merged, liquidated or spun off? Who will own the copyright then? Many publisher own thousands of copyright that they don’t even know about. Nor does anyone else. If you don’t own the copyright, the question is not if but when will your books become orphaned.

#2 Designate a Literary Heir in Your Will

You may need to talk to your lawyer about how to do this. But your great grandchildren will thank you. The problem is your heir will also need to designate an heir since the copyright will likely outlive him or her as well. If you expect your book to continue to sell well for years to come this is even more important.

#3 Release Your Book into the Public Domain Upon Your Death

The public domain is where the works of William Shakespeare, Mark Twain and Charles Dickens live. They can be reprinted without paying royalties and stored in online repositories such as the Gutenberg Project. Willing your book to the public domain saves your children from the hassle of designating an heir. They won’t collect royalties if you release it to the public domain. If they forget your book it may still be orphaned. If you book is not selling this is the best option.

#4 Publish Your Book Under The Creative Commons

The creative commons is like a flexible public domain. Its some rights reserved instead of all rights reserved. Using the creative commons can also be an effective promotion strategy.

#5 Limit the Term of The Copyright

When you write your copyright at the front of the book you can set it to expire on a certain date. When our founding fathers first created the copyright they set them to last for 14-21 years just like patents. After that they automatically went into the public domain. Consider adding a clause that says (Copyrighted untill 20xx)

Disclaimer

This is not legal advice. I’m not a lawyer. You should consult your lawyer before you do anything crazy. Just try to find one who know what the creative commons is.

What Do You Think?

Related posts:

1. Why Copyrights Hurt Authors
2. How the Creative Commons Can Help Your Book Spread Like Crazy
3. Where To Find Free & Legal Stock Photos Online

When our founding fathers created the copyright they did it to encourage the spread of ideas. Copyrights, like patents, only lasted 14 years. Hollywood changed all that and every 5 years or so they extend copy right by 5 years.

The result? Millions of books have been locked in paper prisons rotting into oblivion.

History of Copyright

Here is a great video by Lawrence Lessig that covers the history of copyright:

What Do You Think?

Leave a comment and let us know how you feel. Does the current copyright system need to be reformed?

Related posts:

1. 5 Ways to Keep Your Book From Rotting in a Paper Prison
2. How the Creative Commons Can Help Your Book Spread Like Crazy
3. Authors: Piracy is Not Your Enemy