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Comment by devlopr | Hacker News Reader

I created an ebook[1] and made about $2,000 in the real estate category. Getting it written, transformed into an ebook format and in the amazon / smashworld store altogether took a christmas break 1 1/2 weeks.

My secret was I didn't write more than 5% of the book. 95% came from discussion posts written over the years on one of my website forums.

I still get orders.. I'm still in the top 500 small business / real estate books in canada. This was written in the 2012 and lives on.

I would encourage everyone to publish at least one book. But don't actually write it yourself that's insane amount of work for the expected return.

[1] https://www.amazon.ca/Ontario-Sale-Property-Buyers-Guide-ebo...

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I hesitate to ask, but what’s the copyright status of the material written by people other than you which you’re publishing and charging money for? Did your web site forum terms say the user assigned their copyright to you?

Interesting point and in my case yes and all writing is attributed to the person who wrote it in print. And everyone got a book and a special private forum. In a way it was a community effort of mostly old timers who were there in the beginning.

I'm curious about your point of view. What is your take on these.

- If someone posts something in your forum. Can you legally repost in twitter saying.. so and so just posted?

- When you post in a public forum do you automatically assign the copyright as public domain by virtue of where you posted and who can see it?

- Facebook owns all of the content you post (pictures/posts/videos). Doesn't this apply to all/most sites with user generated content?

- If someone posts something in your forum. Can you legally repost in twitter saying.. so and so just posted?

- When you post in a public forum do you automatically assign the copyright as public domain by virtue of where you posted and who can see it?

What is the difference between them posting on your forum and them posting on their on blog/site? Both are visible to the public. If you have some policy written "anything posted here becomes public domain" when maybe but if you don't I suspect it's at best undecided and at worst, "no, it is not okay to repost"

- Facebook owns all of the content you post (pictures/posts/videos). Doesn't this apply to all/most sites with user generated content?

I don't think this is technically true. https://www.copytrack.com/does-facebook-own-my-pictures/ Basically their terms of service say that you give them the right to distribute it. It specifically says they don't own it.

> If someone posts something in your forum. Can you legally repost in twitter saying.. so and so just posted?

It may constitute fair use. Publishing their work in a book and profiting from it is another story.

> When you post in a public forum do you automatically assign the copyright as public domain by virtue of where you posted and who can see it?

No.

> Facebook owns all of the content you post (pictures/posts/videos).

As the sibling says, they do not.

> Doesn't this apply to all/most sites with user generated content?

No. A given website may state that as a condition of its use, users must assign copyright to anything they post to the owners of the company. This is not a common condition.

and here is one of two reviews (the other one isn't so good either).

"This is the worst book I have ever read. Not organized, inconsistent tabs, incorrect spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Many of the points on tax sales are not fully explained and the reader is left with gaping holes in understanding the tax sale process. Some of the points are incorrect on how the tax sale process works.

I would not recommend this kindle to anyone, especially someone someone looking for guidance on the tax sale process. Perhaps this kindle could be useful in an English class as an example of what not to do."

Conversation style is not for everyone.

A lot of people want a step by step guide with easy to understand rules and clear steps.

I read those types of guide books when I got started and many exist. When I tried to follow them in real life they missed so glossed over so many other problems or situations that can come up. The knowledge of local rules and past experiences and sound judgement was lacking. I found the best way to learn was from conversations in coffee shops / outside auctions from people who have been doing this for years.

This book tries to copy that style with a focus around specific topics that come up. Raw knowledge, warts and all.

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