Before asking the obvious question when noticing the "Learn [X] The Hard Way" pattern, the FAQ already addresses that :-)
Q: Is this site affiliated with Zed Shaw and Learn Code The Hard Way?
A: No. This is a separately run and managed site, based on the format of Zed Shaw's LxTHW open-source package [1] for writing your own programming language course. You should check out the project and see what others are up to! More information is available at: Learn Code The Hard Way [2]
A few other people mentioned this but I'll say it officially since the internet has a short memory for good things:
1. You can't really trademark titles of books, and I wouldn't want to in this case because there needs to be more books in this style. This method works for beginners, and works really well, so I want there to be more.
2. I created the repository so that there's an even lower barrier to entry than having a title to copy. I actually need to update this repository, but if I made it then I want people to reuse the methodology and make their own.
3. My only complaint would be when people rip off my words. If someone wants to write one of these, they just need to do their own writing in their own words and not copy mine.
That's my stance on it. I like people copying the title and method as it means there's more books that will help people learning to code. I just don't like them copying what I wrote.
Seems a little ambiguous to me. His wording seems to me to be about how to write a "similar book". Anyway Zed is here on HN from time to time so we might hear what he thinks.
Why would he put up a public repository if he did not want the format copied?
Zed A. Shaw created project Learn X The Hard Way 2011-08-29 22:06:48 UTC
This is a skeleton book project that makes it easier to start working on a "Learn X The Hard Way"...
Saying that it's a template for a "Learn X The Hard Way" book sounds to me like an invitation to write a book titled "Learn X The Hard Way" (absent any statement on his site asking that people name their book something different).
Q: Is this site affiliated with Zed Shaw and Learn Code The Hard Way?
A: No. This is a separately run and managed site, based on the format of Zed Shaw's LxTHW open-source package [1] for writing your own programming language course. You should check out the project and see what others are up to! More information is available at: Learn Code The Hard Way [2]
[1] https://gitorious.org/learn-x-the-hard-way/
[2] http://learncodethehardway.org/