Public Domain

How to Profit from Distributing Public Domain & Shareware Software

What is Public Domain & Share ware Software

Public domain software is software that is not copyrighted by their authors. Public domain software is written by authors that place their software in the Public Domain and may be copied and distributed freely by anyone with few or no restrictions.

Shareware software is software that is copyrighted by their authors. Share ware is written by authors that allow the user, you or your customers, to try the software before having to register it with the author.If a user likes the software enough to continue using it, the user is put on the honor system to register the software with the author for a fee, usually from $5 to $100. This registration fee provides the user with benefits like free update versions, printed manuals, technical support, other available software, etc.

Share ware software may be copied and distributed freely by anyone with few or no restrictions and without payment to the author. Most authors list their distribution restrictions, if any, usually in a"READEME" file on their software disks. Also check these files for registration procedures and fees.

You Will Distribute Your Software . . . You Will NOT Sell It'

One of the most common restrictions set by authors of both Public Domain & Share ware software is that you cannot sell their software. But you can freely copy it onto a diskette and distribute it to people that pay you a fee for the diskette and your copying service of the public domain or share ware programs onto the diskette. The maximum fee most authors allow you to charge to distribute their software is $7.00.

How to Get Your Software . . . FREE of Charge

Public domain & share ware software is available from a number of Bulletin Boards Services (BBS's)located in every small or large city. With the use of a modem and telephone ,you can download any public domain and/or shareware software program available . . . FREE OF CHARGE!

If you plan on distributing only a few different public domain & shareware programs, then downloading them from your local BSS is a very good way to start. However, if you plan on distributing 50, 100 or more different public domain & shareware programs (there are over 1500 different public domain & shareware software programs available for you to distribute), then the cost of telephone calls to the BBS's will prohibit you from downloading any large quantities of programs. You must then purchase them from a Public Domain & Shareware Library House.

How to Get Your Software for only $2 to $7 per disk

Most public domain & share ware libraries, including Infopreneur Services library, supply the diskettes, the copying service of the public domain & shareware programs onto the diskette and the special knowledge to help and provide you with the very best public domain & shareware software available.

Here's a list of some of the major public domain & share ware libraries. Write to each one for a copy of their catalog and their breakdown of prices.

INFOPRENEUR 3755 Avocado Blvd #110, La Mesa, CA 91941 PC-SIG, 1030D East Duane Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 PUBLIC BRAND SOFTWARE, PO Box 51315, Indianapolis, IN 46251 SIZZLE WARE, PO Box 6429, Lake Charles, LA 70606

How Much You Should Charge

Most public domain & share ware software libraries charge a diskette and copying service fee ranging from $2.00 to $7.00. We suggest you charge $3.99 to start. You will have less sales resistance with the lower fee and therefore get many, many more orders!

If you get all of your public domain & share ware software for only $3.99 per disk, you will break even when you get your first copying fee of $3.99 for that program. But every time you distribute that same program again and again, it will only cost you 25 cents for the diskette (use the 25 cent bulk diskettes you see advertised in most computer magazines -- they work great), about 2 cents for an envelope and 29 cents for first class postage

. . . that's only 56 cents subtracted from the $3.99 leaves you a net profit