Commercial use of WordPress.com
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Other people have asked this question, but I don’t see the answer to it.
Is it permissible to use a WP.com blog to sell a service or product. Specifically, I work with authors, and a WordPress.com website is one option for creating content that attracts potential readers to buy their books. What is the WP.com policy on that?
Is there a difference whether the sale is made on the site itself as opposed to a link to Amazon or the other online booksellers?
Thanks for you help.
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If you, yourself create the product in the entirety, you can sell it.
If someone else creates it, you cannot.
So, you could sell books that YOU wrote, but not books written by any one else.
Or so I understand the policy.
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Thanks, Notawoodpecker.
So that would exclude an anthology that an author had compiled.
I don’t mean to be difficult. I’m just trying to map the boundaries so that when people ask, “What about WordPress.com?” I can give a true answer.
Jan
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I am a recording artist of long standing with my own little record lable. May I sell downloads of recordings of songs that I wrote, produced and performed and that belong to me? If so, may I use a paypal button? Again if so, How can the purchaser download a song from my wordpress blog? Thank you.
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Thanks for adding that, 10greatsongsinsearchofanaudience. That would apply to writers as well, perhaps offering downloadable ebooks or reports.
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Thank you for the kind words janbear. Now, do we just wait for someone to provide the needed information? Thanks again.
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I looked around the site and didn’t see any other place to get an official ruling. The Terms and Conditions don’t cover these questions.
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The answer differs depending on if you’re the person producing the art or an agent of that person. This thread is flagged for staff attention, so just be patient and they will answer it.
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10greatsongsinsearchofanaudience – please start a separate thread and add the modlook tag. A staff member will have a look. Thank you.
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janbear –
Specifically, I work with authors, and a WordPress.com website is one option for creating content that attracts potential readers to buy their books. What is the WP.com policy on that?
Many authors use WordPress.com – we even did a feature on it on the WordPress.com blog a few months ago:
Do you have a specific concern about some of the content you’re thinking of? Could you give me an example? Would the content be original?
Is there a difference whether the sale is made on the site itself as opposed to a link to Amazon or the other online booksellers?
No – either is fine.
You might also want to check out our guide that outlines the types of sites that are and aren’t permitted at WordPress.com.
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Dear Kathrynwp Happiness Engineer,
You wrote “10greatsongsinsearchofanaudience – please start a separate thread and add the modlook tag. A staff member will have a look. Thank you.”
I am sorry to say that I don’t yet know how to start a separate thread..and add a modlook tag.
Could/would you or someone give me simple directions on how to do that? And then I will. Thank you very much. -
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Thank you Ms. timethief.
I have (I think I have) with your help, followed kathrynwp happiness engineer’s direction and created a new thread. I called it “commercial use of wordpress.com#2” I tagged it “modlook” as suggested. I hope that I’ve “done good” and wait to see what comes next. Thank you all for your kind help, it is very much appreciated. -
Thank you, Kathrynwp. The links you put up clarified that for me. I myself have a self-hosted WP site, but it’s good to know in more detail when WP.com would and would not work for someone. Seeing the examples of the different authors was very helpful, especially Tim Ferris’s offer of a bonus for buying copies of his book.
I had the impression that the rules were much more confining than they really are. Thanks again.
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10greatsongsinsearchofanaudience – yes, you’ve done good. :-)
We answer support inquiries in the order they were received, so just sit tight and a staff member will get to your question. Thanks for your patience!
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I’m still confused. The OP is not the original producer of the work, but a marketer/agent/reseller. How does this differ from a typical store/reseller, which is not allowed here?
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Indeed I am likewise confused. There is no middle gray area. Either one is the creator of the intellectual property or they are not the creator of the intellectual property.
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