For this reason, it's important that you take some measures to ensure that your product isn't being illegally copied and/or distributed.

In this article (the first of two on this subject) I'll look at issue of copyright protection.

In part two I'll be looking at practical measures you can take to prevent people from accessing your download pages or passing your ebook on to others

ESTABLISHING YOUR COPYRIGHT

This information is intended to act as an introduction to concept of copyright. Please be aware that I'm not a legal expert. If you've any doubts regarding copyright then you should seek legal advice.

Copyright is name given to protection of your 'right to copy' a published work.

When you own copyright to a work, you've right to reproduce any number of copies of that work in any way you choose. You can also grant copy rights to others.

Once you create a published work, your copyright to that work applies automatically. You do not need to formally register your copyright in order for your copyright of that work to legally exist. In fact, you do not even need to place a copyright statement on work.

Having said that, it's still a good idea to formally register your copyright.

In event that someone has stolen you work, having registered your copyright may entitle you to claim for compensation from offender. If you haven't formally registered work, then legally seeking compensation can be much more difficult.

For a closer examination of this important point, read this article by Mark Levine: http://www.clickandcopyright.com/why_copyright.htm

THE MINIMUM YOU SHOULD DO

If you are hesitant about paying fees to register your copyright, then there are still other measures you can take to make sure that world knows who owns your work (you should follow these steps EVEN if you DO register copyright).

You should include your copyright statement at bottom of every page of your book (and your website and everything else you create).

It's important that there's a market for book. It's also important that you stick to things you know, things that interest you or things you would enjoy researching.

Here are 7 strategies you can use for finding that perfect subject. Try them out...

1.) THINK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU KNOW

One piece of knowledge or one experience is all you may need to create a top-selling ebook.

For example, we've all had negative experiences during course of our lives (ripped off in a scam, serious illness, death of a loved one, addiction, backache, etc). Perhaps you can show others how they can prepare for - or cope with - a negative experience that you've already been through.

Do you know a great way to lose weight? Do you know a way to get through working week without suffering from stress? Do you know a way of saving $200 on taxes? Do you know how to wallpaper a bedroom? Have you recently bought a house and learned an important lesson that can benefit others?

Imagine title "Buying a home? This one tip will save you over two thousand dollars!". If I were buying a home, I would spend $20 or $30 no problem to find out what that tip is.

There's an infinite amount of simple ideas you can turn into great products. You just need to identify them.

2.) TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

You probably have ten potential books inside you just based on things you enjoy in life - cars, sport, cooking, gardening, beer, Spielberg movies, jazz music, pets, computers,...

The fact that you'll be writing about something you enjoy will make researching, writing and promoting your book much easier (and much more satisfying than tackling a subject that you know well, but don't enjoy).

3.) RESEARCH SPECIAL OFFERS OR SERVICES

People are always looking for ways to save money or save time.

Provide information that will help them save money on their insurance, their mortgage, their vacation, their shopping, and so on. Do you know some great research techniques for quickly finding information on Internet? Provide people with information that will save them time with their work, their surfing, their housework, and so on.

If you know a computer company that's offering quality PC parts at bargain prices then that could be basis for a valuable ebook.

Okay, you're effectively giving great advertising to those that offer product or service, but at same time if you're making $10 on every sale and your customers is getting information you've promised, then everyone's a winner.

The Internet is a great place to research just about anything and, as long as you're giving people something of value, you can find basis for a great ebook online.

=====SIDEBAR====== This idea can also be used to make free ebooks. Imagine you are selling an ebook related to dogs. You could put together a simple ebook that catalogs dog-related books that sell online. Tie idea in with a few affiliate programs (like Amazon.com) and you can earn a little extra income as well as get free publicity for your site. =====SIDEBAR======

4.) ASK YOURSELF WHAT INFORMATION PEOPLE WANT

The fact of matter is, there are tens of thousands of books waiting to be written. Every minute of every day people search for information they can't find. Think about those things you've searched for and had difficulty finding. Locate a gap in market and fill it.