Copy Protection of E-books/PDF File

don't visit this forum much, so if someone knows of something and can send us a quick email we would be very appreciative

But do you want to use it for? There has been little, if any, evidence to support reduction in sales of ebooks that are not secure, but the issues of secure documents for ease of use IS an issue.

I was referred to this post by a friend...

You are looking for the Virtual Vault. It is the only affordable total security solution, and it now protects PDF ebooks too! You can monitor the usage of your ebooks and even revoke access from refunded customers.

What happens with your system if I don't like it and I want out.
Ok I'm sure you let me out..but what about the files
I have distributed through your system?

Do they continue to function if open etc..

Sounds like a convenient service to have all of the customers contacted once they leave the service.

When it comes to leaving the service why not let the publisher determine if they want the ebooks remain locked or unlocked. There are going to be publishers who (for one reason or another) are going to go out of business.

The one thing that keeps me from using a protection service is that they require the entire ebook to be locked. The disadvantage being that it strikes dead any possibility of viral type marketing.

Basically, my preference is to remove as many steps for the consumer to make a purchase as possible. Each step introduces another evaluation level for the consumer.

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Basically, my preference is to remove as many steps for the consumer to make a purchase as possible. Each step introduces another evaluation level for the consumer.

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Are you going to offer sales completion as well? Meaning if someone downloads the ebook from my site and decides to purchase it they can click one button that will complete the sale on your site. I'm not thinking in rebranding terms, just sales and refunds--as well as locking and unlocking an ebook.

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I don't believe the added step of downloading a sample file and then having to download the full file would in anyway deter someone from purchasing if they are truly interested in the material...

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File Secure Pro can distribute files to your customer automatically.

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Also, one of the main features that I like about Activ is that the registration of an ebook is locked into the hard drive's serial number, which means that there is little likelihood of that ebook working on a friends machine.

It would appear that in order to use your system with Activ it requires the entire ebook unlocked--otherwise the user would need to complete another registration process.

What happens if a legit owner wants to use the ebook on a different machine other than the one they used for the purchase? Is it possible for them to lock the ebook on one machine, then unlock another copy on a different machine? Are there any additional fees for locking and unlocking ebooks or is it one flat rate for everything?

Since this is a fee based service is there any guarantee/warranty as to what financial responsibility that you will assume in order to compensate ebook publishers as to the loss of revenue in case the system fails? I realize that nothing can be absolute, but how are we, the buyers of the service, going to be assured that the ebooks associated with your service are going to be protected?

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Why inject reasons for reconsideration of any purchase?

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Are you storing the ebook on your site? If so, is there a charge for the download or bandwidth used? Or are you saying that a link is sent to the buyer which links to my site?

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What happens if a legit owner wants to use the ebook on a different machine other than the one they used for the purchase? Is it possible for them to lock the ebook on one machine, then unlock another copy on a different machine?

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Are there any additional fees for locking and unlocking ebooks or is it one flat rate for everything?

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Since this is a fee based service is there any guarantee/warranty as to what financial responsibility that you will assume in order to compensate ebook publishers as to the loss of revenue in case the system fails? I realize that nothing can be absolute, but how are we, the buyers of the service, going to be assured that the ebooks associated with your service are going to be protected?

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I am not aware of ANY company that assumes financial responsibility for the loss a customer might incur using their service or product.  Your assurance of protection needs to be based on your own investigation. Of course nothing is 100% effective, but you must find a solution that covers obvious holes and fits with your preferences. If you don't do you own research and choose to use something that offers less than secure methods, who's fault is it?

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Quote: from Anthony Ellis on 10:56 am on Feb. 15, 2005[br]

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If the simple act of downloading a file prevents someone from purchasing your material, then they don't really want it.

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Really? Then why is it that corporations spends billions on market research? Wouldn't they save money by adopting the 'if they want it they'll buy it' attitude? I wish things were that simple.

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I guarantee your prospects will jump through hoops for your information if it something that they are dying to get their hands on.

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Maybe if you're selling gold ingots at half their value. This wishful thinking appeals to 'get rich quick' crowd, but doesn't pan out in the real world. I'd like to believe in your approach and a few examples would go a long way in convincing me.

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Customer(s) are emailed a download link to the file. You have the option to store the file on our server or your own.

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Is there an additional fee for storing the files on your computer?

I definitely think services like yours is useful and over time as such services become more viral marketing friendly they will find themselves in great demand.

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Does ebook compiler pay you if someone breaks it's high level security to get an unprotected copy of your document?

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You, on the other hand, proffer a service to enhance the security of those ebooks. I have no doubt of your sincerity for your service. What I'm asking is how are we, the users of your service, assured that you will provide the protection that you offer.

Rather than tell me that no one asks that question, I'd rather hear about your qualifications and background in regards to this issue.

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Really? Then why is it that corporations spends billions on market research? Wouldn't they save money by adopting the 'if they want it they'll buy it' attitude? I wish things were that simple.

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Maybe if you're selling gold ingots at half their value. This wishful thinking appeals to 'get rich quick' crowd, but doesn't pan out in the real world. I'd like to believe in your approach and a few examples would go a long way in convincing me.

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Even with that in mind ebook compiler publishers have been known to offer rewards for information on anyone offering a crack for ebooks compiled by their program.

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What I'm asking is how are we, the users of your service, assured that you will provide the protection that you offer.

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Rather than tell me that no one asks that question, I'd rather hear about your qualifications and background in regards to this issue.

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Bottom line, if you have material that you want to protect, then you must define what specific type of protection you are looking for, and then you do the research as I have. Everyone has different requirements and all systems and methods are different. some people need to block screen capture while other don't care about this. Some want to allow the file be be moved to different PC's, while others are more concerned with preventing copy and past of document data, etc.

I'm not questioning your integrity or your ability and feel it is a fair to ask what your background is in light of what your service offer.

Maybe the reason you don't 'get it' is because you see the sale as an intellectual process. I see the process as emotion that is confirmed by the intellectual process. If this is too abstract for you just accept that there is more than one way to approach marketing and sales.

You might want to read authors like Peter Drucker, Seth Godin, George Silverman, Emanuel Rosen, Ben McConnell, or Malcolm Gladwell to name a few. Marketing and promotion is not a matter of 'if your customer truly wants it they will overcome obstacles.' That's just silly and to offer that as advice to your customers is disingenuous to say the least.

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Okay, so you've got the insight the big corporations have overlooked in their wasteful spending on market research, but you don't have real world examples. Let's move on.

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Again, you keep referring to some big corporation's "marketing research" which has all the answers for you. Which corporation? What research? What are the solutions? You are being very general and making large assumptions, yet accusing me of no "real world examples". Examples of what? Examples of making someone want your product so much that they will fall over themselves to get it? Look around, they are everywhere.

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Marketing and promotion is not a matter of 'if your customer truly wants it they will overcome obstacles.' That's just silly and to offer that as advice to your customers is disingenuous to say the least.

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'if your customer truly wants it they will overcome obstacles' is hardly what I've been discussing here... I think you are misreading quite a bit. Even so, When did I say I was giving that advice to my customers? what obstacles are you speaking of? Downloading a file is an obstacle? I don't agree, especially if you are product is digital, lol.

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Maybe the reason you don't 'get it' is because you see the sale as an intellectual process. I see the process as emotion that is confirmed by the intellectual process. If this is too abstract for you just accept that there is more than one way to approach marketing and sales.

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Too abstract, hardly, but we are having several conversations and you are confusing them. My "get it" comment was about your question regarding financial compensation. Tell me what this has to do with offering financial compensation for your losses when using my or any company's product?  I guess I'm not the only one that doesn't "get it" since I don't know of any company large or small that does what you are asking.

OF course there is more than one way to approach sales and marketing, but I've never said otherwise...

"Let's move on"? Yes,yes!

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Of course if they, "truly want it" they are going to jump through hoops to get it...

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For the third time I'm requesting you to provide your background and as to why you will design a better system than the next guy. Have you had previous experience in this area?

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Did you ask Sunil as to what his qualifications were before purchasing his compiler? Probably not. You made the assessment based on the product itself.  Before you purchase or try any software at a store or online, do you try to contact someone to ask them "what are your qualifications"? "Why is your software better than the next guy"? Of course not, that's silly. What you do is try it. Test it and test others and compare it based on what you need and how it performs.

My protection system is done. It's been in development since 2001 and has a patent and 2 trademarks around it. You want to know what makes my system better than some non-existent "next guy"? YOU must make that determination for yourself.  

Your product, on the other hand, promises to extend the security protection of what ebook compilers already provide. Normally, I wouldn’t have asked the question if you hadn’t opened yourself up to in the course of this thread. My preference would have been to ask users of the service what their experience has been with the service (word of mouth is still the best advertising and falls within the purview of viral marketing).

As far as I can tell all of the risk for the security of the system is carried by your customers. If the system fails the user suffers all of the consequences. So you can see why these tough questions need to be answered.

To sum up… There is no warranty as to the use of the service and you are unwilling to be forth coming with your credentials (in regards to providing a secure system.)

With all that said and done you’ll probably be surprised to know that I would still be willing to consider your service some time in the future. Why? Because you are passionate about your service and offer something that the other guys don’t—an opt out system that services the needs of the ebook publisher.

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When deciding on which ebook compiler was the right fit for me, I downloaded and experimented with each of them. There was no purpose in asking Sunil his qualifications because the proof was before me.

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As far as I can tell all of the risk for the security of the system is carried by your customers. If the system fails the user suffers all of the consequences. So you can see why these tough questions need to be answered.

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Here's how I look at it, if my system doesn't provide effective protection, it won't be around long. So I have some cause to make it as complete as I can. Only time will tell, indeed.

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Quote: from Anthony Ellis on 4:08 pm on Feb. 16, 2005[br]

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No software company assumes liability for use of their products...if my system doesn't provide effective protection, it won't be around long.

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Absolutely agree with you. That is why when it comes to a service (such as yours) that it is imperative potential users not be shy about asking as many questions as possible.

The irony is that you acknowledge that word-of-mouth is essential to your success. It truly makes or breaks you. If you think about it you can see why word-of-mouth (viral marketing) is critical to my business plan. Without word-of-mouth viral marketing doesn't exist. So, I hope you will double your efforts to create a service that will adopt to Activ e-Book rather than the other way around. As far as I'm concerned it is absolutely essential that  selected chapters remain unlocked.

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users not be shy about asking as many questions as possible.

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The irony is that you acknowledge that word-of-mouth is essential to your success. It truly makes or breaks you. If you think about it you can see why word-of-mouth (viral marketing) is critical to my business plan. Without word-of-mouth viral marketing doesn't exist.

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You believe that giving your complete (but locked) product to your user entices them to purchase even more, but that is something others would have to test to verify for THEIR product and market.

Personally, I would never distribute my complete product in this manner. Especially if the product file is a large download. What prospect wants to download a 7 mb file to read a few unlocked pages? Not to mention keeping it on their hard drive or passing it around to others. File size can reduce the viral effect.

Also, the chance of someone simply bypassing the ebook protection and getting your entire document is too great. Of course you would never know about this if it did happen. At least if you only distributed portions of the product they would not have the entire thing to possibly crack. From my experience that would not diminish the viral effect and provides some protection as well. Most people are honest of course, so this may or may not be a real concern... It really depends on your market.

Viral marketing is not the only reason for several chapters being unlocked. After the ebook is downloaded and opened the potential customer has a working ebook on their system. There isn't the question of having to download another version (the locked version)of the ebook nor the question if the alternate version will work on the system.

Another reason I want to get the full version (with a few unlocked chapters) onto their system is that they can review it numerous times and once they do make the decision to purchase it is a fluid (and immediate) process.

You and I are comfortable using computers and understand the need to have two versions of an ebook--the sample and the protected version. Unfortunately, there is a good percentage of users who do not share our comfort level with the process. The more steps required the greater the chance that they will bail.

Sure, if they 'truly' want it and are determined to obtain it they will jump through hoops to get it. It would be wonderful if that was the majority of customers, but it isn't.

In other words every step involved can be a potential customer loss point. The more steps that can be removed in the purchase process the greater the chance the sale will be completed.

http://www.nexcopy.com/usb-secure-flash-drives/

Also supports a bunch of other multimedia files.

Good Luck!

Newbies and guests searching for information on the subject of protecting eBook and PDF files should consider this

1) While the NexCopy flash drive protection system might have some advantages, it is not a reasonable distribution method for authors wanting to sell their PDF/eBook on the Internet. Firstly; you can not download the flash drive with a download link -- you require a physical delivery system. Secondly; the NexCopy system is a very expensive way to flog Grandma's recipe book.

If you are trying to protect textual based content and you want to distribute on a physical medium (for eBay etc.) -- why not use less expensive CDs?

2) When dealing with any online security "service" you are totally at the mercy of the service providers. Ask yourself what happens to your existing PDF/eBook if you cancel that service for any reason.

The first thing a service provider will do is close your account. No online service will continue to protect your publication if you do not continue to pay.

What happens next? Does your existing product become completely unprotected (so it can be freely shared)? or does your product become locked shut (so none of your existing customers can access it)? What happens if the security service closes shop?

In any case you lose whatever protection you were counting on.

With an online security service, you also need to consider the over all costs. While it is usually easy to open an online security account -- and the initial cost can be quite low... If you are paying $35 to $65 dollars a month that equals $420 to $780 a year.

3) Maybe its time you took a good look a "stand alone" security application. No online security system can provide a better or more secure level of protection.
With a "stand alone" security application you own the program. You can distribute unlimited "royalty free" PDF/eBook publications without paying another dime and you are never held captive by a service provider with his hand in your pocket.

As expected; a "stand alone" security application not only provides protection against, copying, editing, sharing and printing -- it can also provide sales and distribution management, instant passwords, refund disabling and unlimited copyright protection.

In conclusion, online security services often try to scare authors into using their service, often making it sound like everyone is trying to steal their product. In fact most customers are honest and deal in an honorable way. While "refund fraud" can be a problem, it is much less significant than the long term cost and efficiency of your PDF/eBook security system.

I'm the new owner of ProtectYourFile.com (File Secure Pro) and a new member to this forum.  I took over from Anthony Ellis last year.   I was happy and surpprised to find this old thread from 2005.  At that time, Anthony wrote

"Here's how I look at it, if my system doesn't provide effective protection, it won't be around long."

Well, that was 6 years ago and File Secure Pro is going strong, so we must be doing something right.

rlemire,  to your point #1, the Software as Service (SaaS) model is where many industries are moving.  As evidence I'll point to the success of Salesforce.com in the sales industry. SaaS is becoming the standard because many have realized there are unknown and sometimes surprisingly large expenses associated with installing, maintaining and upgrading server software.

It's within the realm of possibility that a SaaS would have an outage, but that is true also for software that you host and maintain yourself, and then who do you call?  

And I must respectfully disagree with your point #3.  As a hosted solution, we protect against password sharing, **** ers, unauthorized printing, screen capture/sharing as well as locking down the Windows temp files (which is a hole left open by many PDF protection solutions).

Anyway, glad to add to the discussion.

Welcome to the Forum.

As you singled out my comments on this subject in particular, I'd like to take the opportunity to reply. While I think adding to the conversation is commendable, I also think it might be more helpful if you took the time to read the comments in question.

My #1 point didn't say anything about Software as a Service -- it was about NexCopy a (very expensive) flash drive protection scheme.

My #2 point was about problems with online "security" services but unfortunately you completely missed the point I was making. I was not questioning the benefits of Software as a Service (in general) or the reliability of such systems.

The point I was making was that authors who sign up for an online security service (in particular) are placing themselves completely at the mercy of such a system.

By contract, online security services only provide protection as long as the service is paid for. If an author stops paying his monthly fee -- the protection stops. Then - either the PDF file will freely open for everyone (no longer protected) or the PDF file will be permanently locked closed (to everyone - including paid up customers).

Unfortunately, you also missed the point about my #3 comment as well. Although I believe HYPrLock does provide better protection against PDF pirates than any online security service, I was making the point that HYPrLock provides additional features not provided by online services and those features are provide without extra cost or subjecting customers to irritating online registrations or constant online logins.

In addition, I was making the point that online security services would have great difficulty getting customers to sign perpetual monthly contracts if they didn't exaggerate the benefits of "tracking" and use "scare" tactics about online fraud.

Sadly, most new authors do not have enough experience or knowledge about Internet marketing to understand the options available or the pitfalls. Consequently they may make rash choices or decisions based on incomplete or misleading information.