What do the “Las Vegas Welcome Sign“, the term “Yellow Pages” (along with the walking fingers, and the Bible have in common?
None of them are copyrighted.
Anyone can print a telephone directory and call it the Yellow Pages. Any tourist trinket maker can use the image of the Vegas sign. Anyone can print a Bible.
The trouble is not coming up with the idea. I’ve got a hundred ideas. The problem is getting the idea to spread. The more barriers (including copyrights) that you can remove to help people take your idea the masses, the better.
The lawyers are quivering when they read this. But the marketing people should be marketing, not the lawyers.
Failure for most companies comes from trying to sell the idea rather than the application of the idea. The application is where the growth, success, and the money are. Go there.
UPDATE: Elizabeth makes a good point in the comments. Certain translations of the Bible are copyrighted. (I’m a KJV guy) But it strengthens the point as well – the original Bible was not copyrighted (no lawyers in the Holy Land or in King James’ court) and people have figured out applications (the translations) that are profitable.
I enjoy reading your blog. I subscribe to the feed and read it regularly. I did want to point out a misconception on this post, however. Some translations of the Bible (NIV, NLT, etc) are copyrighted, but the rules are fairly generous about how much you can use and in what circumstances before you need special permission.
Keep up the good work! As the owner of a (very) start-up marketing group, I can use the tips.
Elizabeth
p.s. I have my own blog at http://www.tbullgroup.com/tips.html and occasionally link to you when your ideas tie into mine. So, thanks!
“Failure for most companies comes from trying to sell the idea rather than the application of the idea. The application is where the growth, success, and the money are. Go there.”
Great point. It’s the difference between looking at the idea from your point of view, and understanding what your customers will get from it.
With the age of the internet, we’re finding that giving away information for free is usually the most profitable way to go. However, it’s a leap of faith for many who grew up pre-world wide web. They can be stuck in their ways, grasping protectivly to every bit of info they have.
would you believe i found your blog googling “under a bushel” because i was using the phrase to describe our copyright retardedness? thank you for validating my feelings… you didn’t copyright this observation, right? the synchronicity is fabulous.