All this free stuff .... I don't understand it

I frequently look in the "freebies" section, looking for free content for a new website I'm making. There is something I don't get. There are a lot of examples of people giving away content that that they claim they purchased. What's the deal with that? Is there something fishy going on? Is someone stealing stuff? Am I generally allowed to edit this free stuff as I see fit? ETC ETC ETC

I downloaded some of this stuff, but I'm afraid to use any of it.

Here are some examples of what I mean.

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=309038
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=308052
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=314020

 

Nothing fishy - just some users have material they no longer have any use for and generously offer it free of charge to the rest of us. Conditions are normally stated in the thread but as a general rule you can't edit or resell the material without permission. Some products are given away with full resale rights meaning, if you're that way inclined, you can try and sell something you've obtained for free!

 

Well when you use free stuff you risk to use something that is allredy used by many others and you know being unique is important

 

Exactly. If its obtainable free all over the net, most likely it isn't going to be of much value to begin with..

 

Mmmm. We having a a couple of sayings here in the UK:
1. Never look a gift horse in the mouth
2. Owt for nowt (which means take anything for free)

 

Pawned.
Repped you countryboy

 

heh heh, I sure recognise those, anyway the free stuff usually consists of rubbish really, I have only been to that section once

 

Sweet. Thanks everybody. I'm 25 but I'm only an amateur webmaster and I still haven't found my way through this stuff.

 

If you don't trust it... then don't use it

I saw freebies from people who made it themselves is much safer (though anyone can claim that)..

 

Search Copyscape if you are worried about where it originally came from.

 

Thanks for the tip.

 

I had myself some free stuff in here. The deal is I bought lots of materials and use what I needed. The rest is useless for me but can be usefull for somebody else. So I gave it away...

 

Well many good people sharing some good information there which could very helpful for site and some people just giving same and samethin. You have to use anyone which you like better.