Legal question

[GonnaBthere]

If I were to start a fitness program, can I use workout and meal plans from a diet book I read? The program would be online and I would be making money on it.

[BusinessAdviser]

Very simply, no.

[MacCassity]

Hey there,

First of all, I would say you can avert any question of legality (or morality for that matter) by simply giving credit where credit is due. One of the greatest things about the internet is that you can get all the content you want, as long as you give credit where credit is due. If you are using someone's EXACT exercise routine, or EXACT recipe, then you have to give them credit for it. Just like source materials in a book. Now, even this scenario doesn't take away the possibilty of you monetizing your site. The right format, the right information, etc. can make a fine and profitable site.

There are plenty of places for you to get free articles, recipes, etc about fitness related topics, that may be a good start for you. ALSO, if you have a secion on there that reviews exercise equipment, some companies may send you equipment for FREE just to get the review (provided your site is getting some traffic)

Hope that helps a little, good luck!

[GonnaBthere]

Thanks for the input. The content wouldn't be EXACT, though. Let's say the book gives you a routine to excersize doing abs, chest, bicep, tricep and legs. How is it that you can't do something similar? I mean everyone knows push-ups are a good workout for your chest, curls are for biceps, crunches are for abs and so on. So I couldn't say the same thing?

As far as meals, I guess the same can go for that. If the book says to eat eggs in the morning, a turkey sandwich for lunch, and whole wheat pasta for dinner, then I can say to do that as well? Or something similar?

To me it doesn't make sense. Afterall, I've read other diet books and have seen content that say the same thing. They even talk about doing certain types of cardio the same way. So am I missing something? Again, I'm not going to put word for word what other books have said, but losing weight comes down to the same principal...excersize and diet.

[BusinessAdviser]

Hey there,

First of all, I would say you can avert any question of legality (or morality for that matter) by simply giving credit where credit is due. One of the greatest things about the internet is that you can get all the content you want, as long as you give credit where credit is due. If you are using someone's EXACT exercise routine, or EXACT recipe, then you have to give them credit for it. Just like source materials in a book. Now, even this scenario doesn't take away the possibilty of you monetizing your site. The right format, the right information, etc. can make a fine and profitable site.

There are plenty of places for you to get free articles, recipes, etc about fitness related topics, that may be a good start for you. ALSO, if you have a secion on there that reviews exercise equipment, some companies may send you equipment for FREE just to get the review (provided your site is getting some traffic)

Hope that helps a little, good luck!

Just giving credit isn't enough. It's an issue of intellectual copyright law, and credit is not sufficient to avert this area of law.

[BusinessAdviser]

Thanks for the input. The content wouldn't be EXACT, though. Let's say the book gives you a routine to excersize doing abs, chest, bicep, tricep and legs. How is it that you can't do something similar? I mean everyone knows push-ups are a good workout for your chest, curls are for biceps, crunches are for abs and so on. So I couldn't say the same thing?

As far as meals, I guess the same can go for that. If the book says to eat eggs in the morning, a turkey sandwich for lunch, and whole wheat pasta for dinner, then I can say to do that as well? Or something similar?

To me it doesn't make sense. Afterall, I've read other diet books and have seen content that say the same thing. They even talk about doing certain types of cardio the same way. So am I missing something? Again, I'm not going to put word for word what other books have said, but losing weight comes down to the same principal...excersize and diet.

It's an issue of copyright law. Unless you fully understand it or are being advised with regard to it by a licensed attorney, you really shouldn't be skirting the issue of copyright infringement.

[MacCassity]

JMeng, great point. I am not an attorney so I wouldn't give specific legal advice. I guess what I should have said is that if you check with the creator, and they give you express written permission to reproduce content and define how to credit the source, you should be allright. I guess I am lucky as my business partner is a former attorney with over 25 years experience in his practice. My point was more the fact that one could get whatever content they need on the net in the first place.

[BusinessAdviser]

JMeng, great point. I am not an attorney so I wouldn't give specific legal advice. I guess what I should have said is that if you check with the creator, and they give you express written permission to reproduce content and define how to credit the source, you should be allright. I guess I am lucky as my business partner is a former attorney with over 25 years experience in his practice. My point was more the fact that one could get whatever content they need on the net in the first place.

That sounds a little more accurate. Sorry for the attention to detail in this area, but I just finished a specific Copyright Law class, so it's fresh on the brain. "Express written permission" is important to remember. Still, I would speak with an attorney. We draft our own copyright licenses and transfers of copyright ownership, but that's only because of our thorough understanding of the law. If we weren't in this boat, we'd have another attorney (my partner is also one) set us straight.