Stopping people saving images 1

[iazms]

A friend of mine has a simple HTML website and he would like to be able to stop people saving his images.

I have suggested disabling the right click but there are still ways around that...what other options are there that I could suggest to him. Is there really any one way that will stop people saving the images? Perhaps in other programming language or using a particular tool/software/developer.

M.S

 

[TheConeHead]

impossible... unpossible... nonpossible... possibleless... (hint: printscreen)

 

[4x4uk]

This won't stop determined people but you could always put the actual image as the background in a table cell then put a transparent 1x1pixel gif resized to the same size of the image as the contents of the table cell. That way if anyone right clicks over the image all they will manage to save is a blank image.
Regards
Ian

Infinity exists! - I just haven't worked out a way to get there yet.

http://www.ne4x4.org.uk/

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http://www.ne4x4.org.uk/Ian/

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http://www.ne4x4.fsnet.co.uk/beck/

 

[TheConeHead]

all you would need to do in that case is view source, find the path to the image and go there.... I mean you can disable right click or use bg images, but is it even worth it?

 

[4x4uk]

Probably not, if it is displayable in a web browser it is available after all. But the solution posted above is a possible answer to iazms question. It is simple to implement and if the user right clicks over the image and clicks save as they will only get the blank image. I did point out it wouldn't prevent determined visitors downloading the image. There is only on way to do that - don't put it on the web in the first place.

Regards
Ian

Infinity exists! - I just haven't worked out a way to get there yet.

http://www.ne4x4.org.uk/

|

http://www.ne4x4.org.uk/Ian/

|

http://www.ne4x4.fsnet.co.uk/beck/

 

[TheConeHead]

There is only on way to do that - don't put it on the web in the first place.

Bingo!

 

[maxformed]

Yes - the determined visitor will find a way. You could also put the images in a css file - at least there will be no option to right-click then.

http://artechgrp.com

 

[pgtek]

hi
save your image in several layers

cheers

pgtek

 

[TheConeHead]

save your image in several layers

is that supposed to keep it from being taken?

 

[SlowFlight]

If you are trying to prevent people from downloading a copyrighted picture, then edit the posted picture with a large copyright notice which will virtually destroy the posted picture and save it in a lower resolution. The viewer will have to contact you to get a copy of the un-edited high resolution picture.

 

[EdwardMartinIII]

[ol]
[li]Learn about copyright protection from the source:

http://www.copyright.gov/

[/li]
[li]Make a friend or better who is an IP lawyer[/li]
[li]Have them write for you a boilerplate Cease & Desist letter, with a tremendous hammer in it[/li]
[li]Give your images unique and easily-trackable names[/li]
[li]Periodically search the web for your images under that name[/li]
[li]If you find any, draw up a C&D letter for them, scan it, and send them a gotta-sign-for-it, return receipt requested copy.[/li]
[li]Near your image, put a link that reads "Want a free copy of this image?"[/li]
[li]Make that link to a page of all the scans of all the C&D letters you've sent. Be sure to include copies of judgments against 'em, where applicable.[/li]
[li]Near that link, make another link: "Would you like to purchase a very reasonably priced license to this image?", linking, of course, to an appropriate page[/li]
[/ol]

It'll take a while, but it'll probably help. It's a method that does no harm whatsoever to the image, allows legitimate customers to do what they want, and paints a grim picture for anyone who might be thinking "oh sure, I'll just take my own copy of it!"

I'll be the first to admit it's not as fun as ringing your yard with staked heads, though.

Cheers,


Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door

 

[Tracey]

it's not as fun as ringing your yard with staked heads, though.

..which also works, but only for local users

 

[EdwardMartinIII]

On the contrary, history suggests differently.

I forgot to mention that part of step 5 above is to not tell people it is the filename you're using to search. If you feel the need to tell them something, tell them someone snitched on 'em, but that you can't say who. Keeps 'em guessing. (it's okay to be evil to people who steal from you)

Cheers,


Edward

"Cut a hole in the door. Hang a flap. Criminy, why didn't I think of this earlier?!" -- inventor of the cat door

 

[Mr3Putt]

Slice your image into a series of 1-pixel pieces, assemble them (verrrry carefully) in a table.

...oh, rats. Print Screen would still work. I guess you're screwed.

 

[ca8msm]

Just a thought but as you can trap key presses and mouse clicks can't print screen be trapped?

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Need help finding an answer?

Try the search facilty (

http://www.tek-tips.com/search.cfm)

or read FAQ222-2244 on how to get better results.

 

[clarkin]

ca8msm, good idea but no juice. I can just minimize something that was covering the browser window. It disappears, revealing your lurvely piccy to my eyes and prntscrn button .. but the window doesn't have focus (its grey) so stuff like event captures won't happen.

This topic is very interesting - EMIII good post

It brings up the question - is it worth disabling right-click and making view-source a little harder just to stop the % of (l)users who don't know any other way to save images?

What kind of images are you trying to protect? If its original art I think EMIII's and slowflight's suggestions are probably the best.


Posting code? Wrap it with code tags: [ignore]

[/ignore][code]CodeHere

[ignore][/code][/ignore].

 

[dwarfthrower]

There is no foolproof method of protecting images short of not making them available in the first place.

The better way of protecting your property, in the case of original artworks is to place a modified copy of the work on the web site (A nice big watermark should do the trick) so that even the image is totally "unprotected", the person stealing it would be faced with the impossible task of removing the watermark.

Look at Corbis for inspiration:

http://pro.corbis.com/popup/enlarge...ntPos=2&JT=0&page=enlargement&TotalCount=1000

 

[iazms]

Hi guys,
thanks for the ideas. Not sure how practical they are but certainly made an interesting read....keep em coming in.

M.S

 

[pgtek]

hi
Saving your image with multiple layers, the user will have a hard time getting all the layers to view the image. He will be missing layers to see all the image.

cheers

pgtek

 

[TheConeHead]

oh I see so you are saying cut your image up like a puzzle and put the different pieces in various layers ?? hmmm... a screen shot is still just as easy....

I think people are still struggling to figure out how to handle the interent. We want it to be like print or tv where there is clear ownership, but it really can not be like that. I had this same issue with a client who once he found out we would need to buy custom pix for his site - wanted us to pursue this type of thing too ("How can we protect our pictures!!!&quot There is nothing new under the sun... be it code, pictures or whatever.... I think it is a lot of hassle to protect images that people can get anyway and may not even want in the first place...