In our previous section, we explored the option of using Private Label Right (PLR) content to save time and money writing content for your site. Before we go any further, I just want to make sure that you understand what private label rights are, and how these differ from other types of content distribution licenses.
Using Private Label Rights (PLR) Content
You may have heard of terms like "private label", "white label", "resell rights", "master resell rights", etc. and wondered what it all means.
The terms "Private Label" and "White Label" mean slightly different things in different contexts.
In the world of physical goods and products, for example, the term "private label" generally applies to a physical product sold by a retailer, while "white label" applies to a service. Another slight difference is that a "white label" service provider can sometimes be allowed to onsell the service with a "powered by..." tagline to protect clients from liabilities associated with non-performance. With "private label" products, liability remains the sole responsibility of the retailer.
In the online world of selling the rights to digital information, these differences are often too blurred and misused and so they generally mean the same thing.
Private Label content/"White Label" products come in many different formats, including PLR reports, eBooks, articles, graphics, templates and even videos.
While licenses differ with every author and seller, the basic premise is that the license permits buyers to re-brand the content and distribute it under their own name or brand.
Sometimes, you will find that vendors and original authors apply special restrictive terms on private label products, such as not allowing you to claim copyright or authorship of the original product. Sometimes, the opposite is true and you may get information products sold with "unrestricted" private label rights, which means that buyers can resell the same rights with which they've acquired the product.
It's important to note that not all private label releases offer or permit license distribution or transfer.
Marketers use private label products for reselling under their own brands or in the case of written products for online marketing through channels like slide-sharing websites and similar.
Private Label Content also comes with different rights depending on the developer so it's important to thoroughly check each license prior to use, and become familiar with any restrictions that may be in place.
Some of the more typical rights sold with PLR content include:
- Resell (Resale) Rights: You get the right to resell the content and keep the profits from the sale.
- Master Resell (Master Resale) Rights: You get the right to resell the "resell" rights to the content. This type of license appeals both to customers who want the product and businesses who want the opportunity to resell the product to their customers.
As you can see, it's important to understand these differences, not only because they may restrict the usage you had planned for the content, but also because you want to avoid using content or information on your site that breaches terms of sale and could result in legal action being taken against you.
IN SUMMARY
When buying PLR products, it's important to know exactly what kind of usage and distribution rights are associated with the content.
ACTION STEP
If you have purchased any PLR products in the past (or plan to do so in the future), make sure to carefully review the rights associated with the purchase, use and distribution of the content. Make sure that you are 100% clear about what you can and can't do with the content before purchasing. If you have purchased PLR content and you are not clear about certain aspects of its usage rights, go back to the vendor and seek clarification. Also, get their permission in writing if you have requested a special use of the product, especially if you plan to make the content shareable.
I hope you have found this information useful. In the next section, we'll cover another important area of using content on your site created by someone else that can get you into legal "hot water".