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sidneyvanness
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« on: April 09, 2003, 04:25:26 PM » |
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Hi,
This topic doesn't fit neatly into any one board, so I thought that I'd give a few boards a try. I am starting a business that sells financial reports that will be distributed predominantly from our web site. We have not yet decided on a format for the reports, though they will likely be in either HTML or .pdf. I would like to minnimize the amount of redistribution that occurs. While the customer will certainly need to be able to print the files for their own personal use, I am hesitant to actually distribute the file to them, due to the likelihood of redistribution. Any suggestions for a way to permit viewing/printing, but not actual file acquisition? Sorry if this is a dumb question.
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Ed
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« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2003, 04:50:56 PM » |
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There is no easy way!
PDF allows your to control things like that, and even printing permissions. You could use some kind of password system etc. If you wanted to do your best, you could create somekind of windows program that required a password to display it, and that password was checked with your server, and you could track who was using it, and when you see alot of people using the same password from different places, then you can lock the password and issue a new one to the person that you first sent it too. Other than that there is no easy way.
If you allow people to print it, they just have to throw it all in an auto document feeder scanner, and about 10mins later they have a PDF file of all your information.
It really just boils down to how well you trust the end user to not publish it.
You could impose fines and all kinds of stuff, you could go with the password checking method that requires them to authorize with your sever for every 3rd access etc. (Like Microsoft does with XP). But all that kind of stuff gets highly complicated quickly!
Can you trust your customers?
..Hope that started the wheels turning in your head!
- Ed
P.S. I dont mean to sound glum, but there is no 100% way to keep people from copying. The more you prevent them,the harder they will try.
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stephan
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« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2003, 04:58:23 PM » |
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Hi,
It's not a dumb question!
Unfortunately, as Kata said, there is no easy way, if there is a way at all.
If you allow people to print it out, then you are really allowing them to do anything with it, and for them to print out the file, it has to be on their computer, unless they print it out from a web browser.
Either way, the information will still be on their computer and easy to copy.
If I think of something, I'll let you know.
Anyone have any suggestions?
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Ed
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« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2003, 05:30:22 PM » |
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The only way to do it, is to create some kind of application that they read it from, that does not allow them to print it, and use a key that will only work on their system. This would only really be warrented if the report is costing $1000's to purchase. It would also create a huge support nightmare as well!
Even then, they would be able to take screen shots.
How much are you willing to do to prevent copying sidneyvanness?
If it is something high tech, you could also use a physical key system that the user has to plug into their parallel port or USB port to access the software. Of course, this bring the price of distribution way up!
You best bet, is to simply trust the customer, and maybe customize each version (in PDF with printing and text copying disabled) with a little message at the top saying: This report was purchased for use by NAME and NAME only. If you have received this report, and you are not NAME then please report it at: YOURSITE. We will offer you a reward!
Thats another way to handle it.
If its just a $9.95 file its probably not worth your troubles, just hope for the best, and try to trust the customer. Branding each copy with your name, and the customers name would work though!
Good Luck!
- Ed
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sidneyvanness
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« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2003, 07:33:59 PM » |
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First, thanks for these high quality replies. I'm really impressed by this forum. These are going to be high end reports selling for several hundred dollars each--so I have a vested interest in protecting against redistribution. I like the idea of simply stamping the report with the users name and disabling text selection, etc. Is there some way that the personalization can be done server side? For example, could I write a script to insert the user information on the top of the report and then have the document converted into a pdf on the host? Is there open source PDF authoring software that could be installed server side? I know that there are open source PDF readers that come standard on many unix distributions, but I'm not sure about authoring software. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for your high quality responses.
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Ed
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« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2003, 09:58:52 PM » |
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If you dont want to pay the huge prices, you might be able to find something to create a custom postscript file (.ps), and then a cheap or free unix utility you could run server side to convert the .ps file to .pdf (usually the way they do it). I would recommend offering some kind of reward as well for those who are accessing it and who shouldn't be.. anonymous ;-) You will be amazed just how many people would be wiling to be the first person to report it for a couple bucks!  Just dont offer a free copy if they report it, because they will already have one! Good Luck - Ed |
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Pete
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« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2003, 08:18:29 AM » |
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While the customer will certainly need to be able to print the files for their own personal use, I am hesitant to actually distribute the file to them. Hmm. Probably a silly suggestion.  Have you considered Email ?? The customer pays the money.. you email the report ? Or Snail mail That way if you discover the data anywhere else . You know where it originated :!: :!: :!: As Im always saying.. (But nobody listens)
"Take a step back.. Take a deep breath and see if there a simple solution there, thats hiding" lol  [/size]
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Ed
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« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2003, 08:36:15 AM » |
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Pete the whole problem is instant dilvery. Hes not going to be sitting at his computer waiting to brand every order the instant he arrives.
The whole idea is to offer the product the instant the credit card transaction goes through.
With email, its as simple as pressing forward to pass the data on to someone else. The whole point is to make it so that the person that receives the end product cannot pass the information tehy paid for on to anyone else. Thus discouraging pirating.
As soon as you make it available in a form that can be copied, or printed you run the risk of pirating! As soon as one bootleg copy is out there, why would anyone want to buy from you?
---
You may want to try a compbination of them all..
Offer the first part of the report instantly, (somethign you can risk losing on the piratign scene) Then within 24 hours send them their own branded version. The first version just has to be enough to keep them occupied and convinced that they made the right decision!
- Ed
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Wombat
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« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2003, 08:19:05 PM » |
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Create your document preferrably in a decent PageLayout program (PageMaker, Quark etc).
Place a common background area IN which your content will appear on each page.
Make that background colour approx 12%-15% black.
Body text no more than 10-11 point.
Export as PDF using a black and white printer driver.
Force all colours to black in print diolgue box. Save (distill).
Reopen .PDF and and apply password protection (proper big long password 1024 encryption!) to ALL options (including accessing text via dragging of cursor).
Re-save.
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The background stops OCR scanning of document (b/g breaks character recognition).
If pdf sent to others all copyright etc texts remain.
Some will complain about b/g.... stiff! (and may only be prompting you to give 'em what they want to copy).
If ANY file is reverse engineered you cannot do anything about it. But that is serious hacking.
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Ed
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« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2003, 08:33:44 PM » |
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Very good point! Thats definitely a good idea! I guess its just goign to boil down to how much effort you are willing to put in to stop people from copying. The target market will also help you decide how much effort to put in. If its a technical report for computer techies, then copyright protection like the last idea would be needed, but if its for generally computer illeterate people, the other ideas would suffice! Good luck! - Ed |
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sidneyvanness
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« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2003, 01:44:33 PM » |
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Wombat, That's a great idea that is elegant in its simplicity. I must confess that I'm not a pro at any of the better DTP programs--I've just been using the cheap old MS Publisher. IF you get a chance, could you please post something (plain text on the background that you suggested) either as a .pdf or HTML so that I can see what it looks like and how it prints up? I don't want to go buy either Quark or PageMaker without knowing what the final output would be--those are expensive!!! Thanks for your outstanding idea. Thanks, Sidney VanNess Create your document preferrably in a decent PageLayout program (PageMaker, Quark etc).
Place a common background area IN which your content will appear on each page.
Make that background colour approx 12%-15% black.
Body text no more than 10-11 point.
Export as PDF using a black and white printer driver.
Force all colours to black in print diolgue box. Save (distill).
Reopen .PDF and and apply password protection (proper big long password 1024 encryption!) to ALL options (including accessing text via dragging of cursor).
Re-save.
.........
The background stops OCR scanning of document (b/g breaks character recognition).
If pdf sent to others all copyright etc texts remain.
Some will complain about b/g.... stiff! (and may only be prompting you to give 'em what they want to copy).
If ANY file is reverse engineered you cannot do anything about it. But that is serious hacking. |
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