If you’ve ever frantically searched whether selling your high school notes is allowed on Reddit, Bored of Studies or any other platform, the answer is yes – as long as it’s your own work and you own the copyright. Sharing your knowledge and hard work can be a great way to earn passive income while helping others succeed. But before you upload those notes and start counting the cash, there are a few legal and ethical considerations to keep in mind.
Collaboration is common in school, and it’s possible your notes include contributions from classmates or study groups. In this case, it’s important to get everyone’s permission before selling. To keep things fair, make the process professional: ensure the notes are clean, organized, and free of any private or sensitive information. You can then agree on how to split the profits – for example, one person uploads the notes and divides the earnings with everyone involved.
This depends on who owns the rights. If you created the notes while tutoring privately and never officially sold them to someone, you likely retain the copyright. However, if you made those resources for a tutoring center or business as part of your paid work, they might belong to your employer – especially if you were compensated for creating them. In those cases, it’s best to check your contract or clarify ownership with your manager before attempting to sell.
If you’re unsure about the rules, check out our copyright blog guide for more details on protecting your work and staying within the law (as well as rules on how any students or buyers, on this platform or off it, should be using your work to help themselves!).
Why selling notes is a win-win
When done legally, selling your notes is more than just a way to make money. It’s an opportunity to help other students succeed, share your unique perspective, and maximize the value of your hard work. Whether you’re sharing notes for a specific subject, exemplar essays, or exam tips, your resources could make a huge difference for someone else.
Ready to get started? Notes2u makes it easy to sell your high-quality notes. We’re here to help you upload, share, and earn from your work while ensuring everything stays professional and above board. Our copyright protections and Terms are industry-leading, and we even coded an online-only document viewer from scratch to protect your documents if you don’t want students to be able to view them - tutors have the choice to allow students to download, view online, or both! If you’re a private tutor or company interested in similar protection for your own small business, then you can also get in touch via our commercial page and we can tailor-make an affordable and intuitive solution for you! We believe in freedom of choice and intellectual integrity, and it’s at the centre of our business ethos. So, if you’re looking for a reliable platform to turn your effort into income, Notes2u has got your back!
So, get started selling today by clicking here, and make your hard work work hard for you!
Disclaimer: This is not legal or financial advice. Consult a lawyer or applicable academic misconduct policies if you require legal advice for your specific case.