Royalties look a lot more interesting or less risky. 

I get regular royalties on those images - whether they're used in textbooks or for advertising.  

I would argue and I have found by experience of having over 100 front doors, that if you treat your tenants like royalty and they are quality tenants, they will not move over a $15.00-$20.00 nuisance increase.  

If you are a passive investor in a partnership, have royalty income from gas wells or authorship or any other Passive Activities, then this counts.  

You pay a small royalty to the designer, but it is well worth it for the effort you would have to expend as an alternative.

Our rental income is on Sched E (rental / royalty).Just curious, CurtPS I don't want to hijack this thread with why I do my own taxes but I have reasonable reasons why

formulas to determine whether we're receiving fair offers [are most contracts really set on a monthly basis royalty, rather than outright payment for drilling rights for the 20 year period - and is 20 years really the industry standard?

The only other provision I forgot to mention was that the amount contributed to a pension plan can only be deducted from earned income (income subject to FICA and Medicare taxes), not dividends, rents or royalties or other investment or passive income.

You mentioned property management but are you managing your own properties (a passive activity that can be very active and much like a business) or are you managing properties for others which is a business that in many states requires a license.W-2 income, business income where you materially participate, royalties made from your personal efforts all would be considered earned income.

Retirement plans are designed for producing passive income such as interest, dividends, royalties, rent from real property, etc.