Starting a 'business'?

[Jaymes]

My aunt who works extensively with mentally impaired children came over to visit today and mentioned and idea that's been wiggling around in my brain ever since she mentioned it.

She said that she stumbled upon a site that made interactive 'books' made with Powerpoint that have pictures of the kids, along with text etc. Or just something interactive to help learn what they're going over, stuff like that. She said she thought it was a great idea, but most teachers either don't know how or don't have the time to make such things, and that I have spare time while I'm recovering and waiting for college to start and it'd be a good idea for me to make these and try to sell them.

What would be the legalities of that? Can you sell things made with Powerpoint? If so, what do you guys think a fair 'price' would be, since these don't really take a whole lot of time to make?

 

[Jaymes]

Come on... you're a smart bunch! Surely one of you know something about this.

 

[Aqualung]

Well, I know that you will own the copyrights to anything that you make. So you could make copies and sell them. I don't know what a fair price would be because I don't exactly know what you're making and who you're selling it to.

 

[Jaymes]

Middle paragraph?

Thanks, though. I didn't know if it was legal to make and sell stuff with Powerpoint.

 

[Aqualung]

Yeah, I think it is. Because it's your own invention. If you couldn't, it would be like saying whoever manufactures the pen and the paper get dibs in your copyright, too, which isn't true. So I think you own the entire copyright, which means you can sell it all you want.

 

[Jaymes]

Excellent Now I just have to hope people will want this. My aunt's rather involved in the teacher 'community' and says they do... but I'm not so sure. Oh well, at worst I get out and meet a few people and waste a couple of printouts.

 

[Pah]

Gail just went through a long period of picking new text books for the science department. Each of the publishers (5 bid on the sale), for each level {Basic, Honors, Jr. High), of each subject had free and extensive teacher aides. I would think that you would do better to find a nitch and market toward it. I would even suggest that you do it in colaberation with someone in the field - they would know whats not available for those unique needs. One consideration would be both Sunday Schools and adult Bible study. Seek out pastors in your neighborhood to see if it is feasible. Another market might be in adult education - for example the YMCA offers courses and instructors for those courses would also be able to tell what can be done.

 

[Jaymes]

That's not a bad idea, Pah... I hadn't considered doing it for anything other than elementary and special ed classes. Thanks!