I have just discoveredwww.ibookster.comwhich promises to be a good ebook security system but has a number of problems in my opinion. I don't know if Sunil does the programming for your ebook compiler - hopefully you do so you can emulate this system but better.
They instantly process unique passwords for ebooks and to get refunds you must enter a code which disables the ebook and they only work on the one computer.
However you must use them as your payment processor, you must pay $9 per custom ebook to get a branded ebook for affiliates and pay each time you want to change / update your ebook.
Personally I want a solution like this you can run on your own server and use ibill, clickbank etc whom everyone knows and trusts.
Good service others might want to know about but needs some improvement yet.
Dale.
Posted on: 6:48 am on February 23, 2001
EBookCompiler
Hello Dale
Something like is definitely do-able, but there's a number of things that need to be considered:
1. To do something like this the E-Book needs to connect back to some web site/ web site dataase / etc to log what's going on. Now the possibilities on this are where it is potentially gets complicated:
- if it links back to the ebook compiler's site then a. what if the site is unavailable, crashed, down, etc. b. I know web server's are not 100% reliable. As a compiler vendor, I wouldn't want to be responsible for stopping thousands of people selling their e-books if mine crashed! c. what about bandwidth. if you sell a zillion e-books, you are using the compiler's bandwidth (and therefore money). which leads to (d) [if the service is successful, then price raises simply to pay for bandwidth because a possibility] d. what if the compiler raises prices, moves, etc. e. as an author as well, I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with a solution like that
- if it links to your site (which I agree is better) f. everybody's web server is different, e.g. ASP, CGI-BIN, CGI, PHP, JSP,, MySQL or not MYSQL etc. This gets complicated! g. the majority of people are not technical wizards. so a solution that doesn't require technical wizardy, writting your own scripts would be a nice goal. h. one idea that did occur to me, is that we could make a solution that is guaranteed to work if your hosting is with a well-known, reputable company, say Virtualis, etc. If you use a different host - then it's up to you
2. I hadn't seen this one before, but I have seen 2 others with similar sorts of ideas
One of them links back to the vendor's server (problems a to d), and charges per book sold.
The other links back to your server - but (a) Needs a dedicated NT server. Probably costing you at least $300-$500 per month (b) Requires their customer software on your NT server - costing - get this $5,000 !
3. Do not take this as knocking your idea Dale - it's a good idea
I'm simply trying to narrow down what this kind of solution, we would need to do
To make feasible we need to come out with an approach that - a reasonable number of people can use - is flexible - let's them go thru their own site/server - and has a reasonable cost for people to buy + run.
I'd welcome some feedback on this.
If we can narrow it down to a reasonable + doable set of requirements, then we'll do it
Posted on: 12:04 pm on February 23, 2001
DaleReardon
Quote: from EBookCompiler on 12:04 pm on Feb. 23, 2001[br]Hello Dale
Something like is definitely do-able, but there's a number of things that need to be considered:
1. To do something like this the E-Book needs to connect back to some web site/ web site dataase / etc to log what's going on. Now the possibilities on this are where it is potentially gets complicated:
- if it links back to the ebook compiler's site then a. what if the site is unavailable, crashed, down, etc. b. I know web server's are not 100% reliable. As a compiler vendor, I wouldn't want to be responsible for stopping thousands of people selling their e-books if mine crashed! c. what about bandwidth. if you sell a zillion e-books, you are using the compiler's bandwidth (and therefore money). which leads to (d) [if the service is successful, then price raises simply to pay for bandwidth because a possibility] d. what if the compiler raises prices, moves, etc. e. as an author as well, I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with a solution like that
- if it links to your site (which I agree is better) f. everybody's web server is different, e.g. ASP, CGI-BIN, CGI, PHP, JSP,, MySQL or not MYSQL etc. This gets complicated! g. the majority of people are not technical wizards. so a solution that doesn't require technical wizardy, writting your own scripts would be a nice goal. h. one idea that did occur to me, is that we could make a solution that is guaranteed to work if your hosting is with a well-known, reputable company, say Virtualis, etc. If you use a different host - then it's up to you
2. I hadn't seen this one before, but I have seen 2 others with similar sorts of ideas
One of them links back to the vendor's server (problems a to d), and charges per book sold.
The other links back to your server - but (a) Needs a dedicated NT server. Probably costing you at least $300-$500 per month (b) Requires their customer software on your NT server - costing - get this $5,000 !
3. Do not take this as knocking your idea Dale - it's a good idea
I'm simply trying to narrow down what this kind of solution, we would need to do
To make feasible we need to come out with an approach that - a reasonable number of people can use - is flexible - let's them go thru their own site/server - and has a reasonable cost for people to buy + run.
I'd welcome some feedback on this.
If we can narrow it down to a reasonable + doable set of requirements, then we'll do it
Hi,
Yes I agree that using your bandwidth / server would be madness and get you lots of charges or complaints or both!
What you have suggested in terms of guaranteeing for a certain server is what Optin Lightning (which I've just bought) does. They say will definitely work on Host4profit, which is just a Virtualis server, and offer a very cheap installation rate or on other servers per hour installation.
I suppose that some of these solutions are catering to perhaps hysteria about supposed ebook theft.
I don't know how large a problem it really is.
I have just been reading the help files for your compiler regarding password lists. Perhaps what would be best is to write a script, maybe you already have it, to work with your compiler and the 1000 passwords.
The 1000 passwords may be adequate security but I don't fancy creating 1000 thankyou pages so need to sort out a script.
Do you have such a script or know where to get one?
I don't have a Perl, PHP, Java or JavaScript version yet
Posted on: 7:01 pm on February 23, 2001
ebookpro
Sunil and Dale,
Have you seen Royalty Lock? I would appreciate your opinions on this new security system...http://www.royaltylock.com
Eva
Posted on: 3:48 pm on February 24, 2001
DaleReardon
Quote: from ebookpro on 3:48 pm on Feb. 24, 2001[br]Sunil and Dale,
Have you seen Royalty Lock? I would appreciate your opinions on this new security system...http://www.royaltylock.com
Eva
Hi,
Royaltylock seems to be a clever affiliate / doorway type site for ibookster.com or perhaps a partner of theirs.
Sunil's post above has pointed out the main problems.
The main problems I see are lack of control in relying on someone else's server and also losing the ability to sell through Clickbank with its easy affiliate program.
The concept is wonderful but I think we need a solution to run on our own servers.
If Sunil can fix one minor thing which I've emailed about but won't discuss here as don't want others knowing if don't know already then I think the 1000 passwords is pretty darn good with the flexibility you retain.
Dale.
Posted on: 4:03 pm on February 24, 2001
EBookCompiler
Dale, thanks for additional feedback
Two options that have occurred to me on the follow-up of whether to run your own server, run on our/vendors server etc.
#1 - I could potentially lease a server or probably a group of servers specially for this. This could be divided up into virtual servers, so it your account. Obviously you'd have to pay for this - but it would be guaranteed to work, and you could do anything (except spamming or break the TOS) with the a/c. The nice part is this could allow plenty of space per a/c and very cheap bandwidth. I won't pretend I don't have reservations about this, but it's possible. I'll get some updates on pricing on leasing, and do the sums, and see.
#1a - I have friends a couple of good hosting co.'s. Basically they run server(s) etc., again you get a good deal, if enough people go for it.
#2 - As said before, check it out on a decent host, and then if you use the a/c that I test with it'd be guaranteed to work
As always, you'd be free to go elsewhere for this call-back feature - but then it would be up to you to determine if the host was right.
On the other issue Dale, it's kind of a complicated issue and I won't rehash all the details, but it is a priority...
Posted on: 1:41 am on February 25, 2001
Joe2002
Hello--
We publish and sell 63 eBooks in both MS Reader and Adobe Reader formats. We are just sending the eBook files to people when they are purchased.
We would like to include the buyers name and contact information in each eBook we sell. We're hoping this will discourge people mailing their eBooks to their friends.
Does anyone know how or where we can get this done at a minimum cost. Or perhaps you have a better security suggestion.
The [={customerno}] will be the number from 1 to 100000 at run time
When you sell to a new customer you give that person the appropriate EXE file, and add a record to the database on your web site. You would need some kind of CGI or PHP scripting in your sales process if you wanted this to be automatic
Posted on: 1:42 pm on December 30, 2001
EbookHeaven
Hi Dale,
The question of security with regard to ebooks is as old as the ebook idea itself. There have been a number of attempts at creating solutions. Some have even been reasonably successful.
I bought Ebook Pro way back when I first realised what my logs were telling me--10 sales and HOW MANY downloads! 100?
The problems began as soon as I tried to sell anything in this format. It was an ethical decision on my part to tell my customers what I COULD do (meaning how I could turn off their book) and it was their decision not to buy my book! As soon as they read my FAQ on this issue, to a man they opted to buy a different format!
Suffice it to say that I no longer use Ebook Pro--a new solution was required, but I didn't know what it could be.
In the end, I decide to use Locked Area (http://www.locked-area.com/html/pro/) to create a members area that I could control. It still doesn't address the chance of copying and re-distributing an ebook, but at least it secures my download area.
I have almost convinced myself now that any copies out there are free publicity for me--almost.
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