How to Legally Protect Your Course, eBook, or Template from Copycats
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. I am not a lawyer. Please consult with a qualified attorney to ensure your license terms and usage rights are appropriate for your products.
If you're a digital product creator, chances are you’ve poured hours into building your course, designing your templates, or writing your eBook.
Now the big question:
How do you protect your work so it doesn’t get copied, resold, or misused?
This is where things like licensing, usage rights, and content protection come into play — and while it may sound overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be.
This post will walk you through the key legal considerations every digital product creator should know, especially if you’re selling:
Online courses
Downloadable workbooks or guides
Notion or Canva templates
Printable planners
Swipe files or digital toolkits
Let’s simplify what you need to know to stay protected and make things crystal clear for your buyers.
What Is Licensing (And Why It Matters)?
When you sell a digital product, you’re not really selling the content itself. You’re selling the right to use it — that’s where licensing comes in.
A license is simply a set of rules that tells your customer what they can and can’t do with your product.
Examples of licensing terms:
“For personal use only”
“You may use this in your business but not resell it”
“Includes commercial use rights with attribution required”
“This product may not be shared, resold, or edited without permission”
These rules protect your time, your work, and your brand — and help prevent confusion down the road.
How to Protect Your Online Course
You’ve spent months creating your course content — recording videos, writing lessons, and designing worksheets. Here’s how to protect all of that:
Include a license or usage terms page in your course materials
Let students know what they’re allowed to do with your content. For example:Can they download the lessons?
Can they use the templates for client work?
Are they allowed to reuse the material in their own trainings?
Add a copyright notice to your slides and downloads
This is a simple line that reads:
© 2025 [Your Name or Business]. All rights reserved.Set clear expectations in your course terms of use
Most course platforms (like Teachable, Kajabi, ThriveCart Learn, etc.) allow you to link or upload terms during checkout. This is where you should spell out things like:How many users are allowed per license
Refund policies
What constitutes a violation of your content rights
How to License eBooks, Printables, and Templates
These products are often resold, repackaged, or shared without permission — not always with bad intent, but usually because the rules weren’t clear.
So give your buyers simple instructions upfront.
Common types of licenses:
Personal Use Only
The buyer can use the product for themselves, but they cannot resell, share, or redistribute it in any way.Commercial Use (Non-Editable)
The buyer can use the finished product in their business (for example, post it on social media or print it for clients), but they can’t change the content or sell it as their own.Commercial Use (Editable/White Label)
The buyer can edit, brand, and resell the product, often with or without attribution depending on your terms.
Whichever license you offer, put it in writing — in your product description, inside the actual file, and on your checkout page if possible.
What to Include in Your License Terms
Your licensing terms don’t have to be fancy. Here are a few basics you can customize:
Who can use it (just the purchaser, or their clients too?)
How they can use it (personal, commercial, or resale?)
What they can’t do (edit, rebrand, resell, claim copyright?)
Whether attribution is required (link back to you or not?)
Any expiration or renewal terms (especially if it’s a template subscription or limited-time use)
What Happens If Someone Breaks Your License?
Sometimes people use your content in ways they weren’t supposed to. Maybe they forward your course login to a friend or upload your template to a freebie group.
Here’s what to do:
Start with a friendly reminder
Most people don’t realize they’re crossing a line. A quick email pointing them to your license terms is often enough.Send a formal takedown notice
If the content is published online (like on a website or Etsy), you can file a DMCA takedown with the platform or the person’s web host.Reach out to a legal pro
If it’s serious or ongoing, a lawyer can help you draft a cease-and-desist or take legal action if needed.
Make It Easy to Understand
Avoid complicated legal language when writing your license terms. Your buyers will feel more confident (and more likely to follow the rules) if everything is clear and straightforward.
Use plain language like:
“You can use this for your personal planning, but you can’t share it with others.”
“This template can be edited and used with clients, but you cannot resell or give it away.”
Final Thoughts
Your digital products are your intellectual property — and they deserve protection just like any physical product. By setting up clear license terms and content protection up front, you’re saving yourself time, stress, and income loss later.
Whether you’re launching your first eBook or building a library of sellable templates, make sure you:
Clarify what your buyers can and can’t do
Add visible license terms at multiple touchpoints
Include copyright notices where appropriate
Understand what to do if someone violates your terms
It’s a one-time setup that pays off long term.
