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[edm548]

I have a great idea for a how to learn approach that is a new way of learning how to become better at doing this one thing.  It would be a compilation of techniques and knowledge that are widely available through workshops and in how to books currently available today.  I would not be copying anyone's work but the concepts taught are pretty much out there in one form or another.  The book would be a systematic learning approach that a certain group of people can utilize as a tool to help them be successful at a certain thing.  I have looked around and never seen any book that approaches this topic like this. 

Most of the material in the book could be found in other books.  If I take a generic topic in each chapter, can I write about it from what I have learned from others without copying their work?  (Can I give them credit?)  Again the material is pretty generic and I could quote numerous sources in the book on any of the topics.  My ideas are the sum total of what I have learned from books, magazines and workshops I have attended.  The topics/subjects have been widely written about over the years. 

I don't want to start this book without some idea of whether or not I could be in hot water copyright wise.

Thanks

[artchain]

Yes, you can do that.

Copyright protects creative expressions... it does not protect ideas or knowledge.

Let's say I read some books and magazines about fly fishing.  I also attend a fly fishing class.  Some of the authors have GREAT tips in their books, including practice exercises to help get better at casting.

I can then go off and write my own book about fly fishing.  I can include the great tips, and can even recommend the same practice exercises, provided I write my book entirely in my own words, and I don't copy or use any of the wording from the books and classes I've taken.

This is very common practice.

[edm548]

Thank you.  I have been collecting this information for the past 12 years!  Looks like I will be busy writing.

[KimYM]

This topic is related to my situation, except that I am doing a research "The topics/subjects have been widely written about over the years."  and come to an conclusion based on my data collection.

What if my coworker is taking my main idea of research, and following pretty much the same procedure of my research.  Is this allowed?  Can my coworker do this?

You say, "I can then go off and write my own book about fly fishing.", is my coworker going off and doing her own research even though I started the project more than 6 months earlier, and it is in the same company.   

[Smokin]

yup, that's allowed. You don't own the rights to an idea, only the expression of what you do with that idea.