why I am unable to publish my package to npmjs - node.js

Question

I have created an account with npmjs.com also I'm following the how-to-npm tutorial from command line (linux). I'm at the stage where I should publish my test module. But I keep getting error:
You must sign up for private packages : #zentech/node
these are all the error when npm publish
npm ERR! publish Failed PUT 402
npm ERR! Linux 4.10.0-33-generic
npm ERR! argv "/usr/bin/nodejs" "/usr/bin/npm" "publish"
npm ERR! node v4.7.2
npm ERR! npm v3.5.2
npm ERR! code E402
npm ERR! You must sign up for private packages : #zentech/node
npm ERR!
npm ERR! If you need help, you may report this error at:
npm ERR! <https://github.com/npm/npm/issues>
npm ERR! Please include the following file with any support request:
npm ERR! /home/george/node/npm-debug.log
my package.json file
{
"name": "#zentech/node",
"version": "1.0.1",
"main": "index.js",
"preferGlobal": true,
"scripts": {
"test": "node test.js"
},
"author": "",
"license": "ISC",
"description": "",
"repository": "http://github.com/zentech/node"
}
does anyone know why the error? thanks

Answer 1

As suggested in the comments above the way to publish a scoped package i.e.
#scope/my-package
is to use the --access flag when publishing
npm publish --access=public
You do not need to sign up for private packages unless you actually want your package to be private.

Answer 2

Or you can set the public access on package.json:
{
...
"publishConfig": {"access": "public"}
...
}
rather than:
{
...
"publishConfig": {"access": "restricted"}
...
}

Answer 3

You must sign up for private packages: #zentech/node
So you either sign up, or you change the name of your package from #zentech/node to a public name, like zentech-node.