How do I make web content secure against piracy?

[franktripucka]

I am looking for a comprehensive digital rights management system that will allow me to secure premium content so that end-users can't save /download /cache /capture the cotent..

any ideas?

frank

 

[Grenage]

Are we talking Images here?

This is a bit tricky, because once the media is in the browser it is on their computer and can be played around with.

 

[franktripucka]

Grenage

I am looking for a solution that will prevent the computer form "cacheing" the contnet including images!!

Also it would be nice if the images would automaticaly dissolve and or pixelate after a set period a time.. (say we give the end user 15 sec to take a peek before the image does a disappearing act)

does any body out there know of a solution that could help me?

Frank

 

[danielhozac]

If something's viewable, you can copy it. There are some ways to make it harder, but you will never be able to fully protect your content.

//Daniel

 

[Wullie]

Hi mate,

This may sound over the top but the only way this is possible is to create your own browser or plugin and only allow access to the site with that.

Images can be grabbed whether you cache them or not, print screen is always available and there are many, many other ways to grab content.

Hope this helps

Wullie

http://www.necomputers.org.uk

http://www.freshlookdesign.co.uk

http://www.freshlookdesign.com

http://www.whiland.co.uk

The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change.
The leader adjusts the sails. - John Maxwell

 

[Salem]

If you're looking to secure text and images, then perhaps the PDF (Portable Document Format) from Adobe would help.

Individual documents can be set to dis-allow things like
- save as
- copy selection
- print
- edit

They can also be set to be password protected, so you need a password to access the document in the first place.

I think PDF documents can contain animated images, so making something disappear after a time period would be possible.

 

[MikeGarde]

I would go with PDF's but you still have to realize that another user with the Acrobat Distiller (not reader) has more access to your files then you want them to have.

But I did read an article in US News & World Reports (I think) that talked about Microsoft working on a technoligy that will have files "expire" but this is years away.

 

[alanromine]

Mike
You said that you read an article that talked about Gates working on a technology that will have files "expire". I was doing a search for a sharware technology that lets the content’s owner decide when his/her content kicks the bucket..and found a really cool solution called allrights

http://www.simtel.net/product.php?url_fb_product_page=67657

I played around with it, a lo and behold it put me in the drivers seat, and allowed me to make images and text do disappearing acts after they were previewed for an amount of time that I decided!! Have you or Wullie or Danile ever tried it?

Alan

 

[Wullie]

Alan,

I haven't used this but I am curious to how it works. From the description, it implies that this is installed in the browser, so you would need to install an ActiveX control or similar. Is this true?

If so, this is what I mean't above about the plugin, it can be done by using this but means a huge amount of visitors will never see the content, because they won't accept the plugin.

Do you still have the test environment online so we can try it? It seems to only work with IIS and I only use Apache.

Hope this helps

Wullie

http://www.necomputers.org.uk

http://www.freshlookdesign.co.uk

http://www.freshlookdesign.com

http://www.whiland.co.uk

The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change.
The leader adjusts the sails. - John Maxwell

 

[franktripucka]

Thank you for the info Al and for your insight Wullie.

I downloaded allrights from the site you suggested

http://www.simtel.net/product.php?url_fb_product_page=67657

and found a test environment online at

http://www.allrightsdrm.com/demo/

Try it and let me know if it shows any promise.

Why do you think a huge amount of visitors will never see the content, because they won't accept the plugin?


Frank

 

[Grenage]

I never, ever accept any plugins or downloads unless I really need them or know exactly what they are going to do. At work we teach all users to act in exactly the same way.

With Virii/Worms/Trojans/Spyware on the rampage people are becoming a lot more wary (or at least they should be!).

I always say "If it's not HTML it's bloat", there are obviously some exceptions.