The first issue is to determine if the product is indeed in the public domain. If the book was written before 1923 then it automatically falls into pd. If the copyright was not renewed then after a certain number of years the book would fall into public domain. You can access to U.S copyright office free online to check whether the product is really in public domain.
Once you have determined to your satisfaction that the book is in public domain you might want to start the process of making a digital copy. Before publishing and marketing a copy of your new work you should have a certified report generated from the Library of Congress that certifies your work is in the public domain at the time of your request. This report will be necessary to protect your interests should the copyright come into question.
Books are not the only possibility. There are art pieces that can be republished and sold; movies that can be made to MP4 files and played on PSP players; music that can be re-mastered for MP3 files. Another option could be audio books of some of the old children's classics. Look through the potential files and use your imagination.
Using pd information can be cost effective if you find a book that has already been made to digital format. You might take on the challenge of typing the book into a computer yourself if it isn't digital. The largest expense is the certified report from the Library of Congress. Starting in July 2006 they significantly increased their prices from less than $75.00 for a certified report to $300.00. Apparently use of pd information is skyrocketing and the Library of Congress is taking advantage of the laws of supply and demand.
For additional information on the terms and use of the pd. Visit: Public Domain Secret & The Forbidden Thread.
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