How to stop ebook thieves?

Michael

Leave it out. You could mention that there are that type of un-ethical sites around but don't give details.

Neil

Hey Mike,

Hmmmm I think maybe not releasing may be the better approach you could always refer to 'for more information on these kind of thief sites simply type in file sharing on google and be prepared for a shock' or something like that . that way your not advocating and providing link juice to them
-WD

Michael, I faced a very similar problem recently. I have to tell a short story to set the context...

When I released by first ebook years ago I received an email from someone thanking me for it. Only problem was, the guy didn't buy it, he was trying to get me to pay him to tell me how he found it. He thought I'd want to fix the hole, which I did, but I wasn't about to pay him for stealing my ebook. I figured it out on my own and plugged the holes and forgot about it.

(Side Note: There was more than one way to find my download - and no, it wasn't an easy to guess page name like download.html or anything like that.)

Fast forward to a month or so ago...one of my newsletter subscribers had just written her first ebook and wanted to know how to protect it from being stolen. After telling her what I do, I got to wondering if finding people's ebooks was still as easy as it was back when that guy tried to blackmail me.

I went to Clickbank and visited a few sites, and discovered I could find the vendor's product about 35-40% of the time. I immediately came here with the idea of posting a warning to my fellow Warriors, but as I was typing it up I realized that I'd just be teaching others how to steal products.

Then I thought of making it a WSO, thinking that site scavengers wouldn't pay because they like to get things without paying. I realized though, that those whose sites were safe, wouldn't get anything out of my WSO. So I wrote a PLR product to include with it so anyone who can make one sale would get value out of it.

Then I thought, maybe site scavengers would pay, knowing they would be able to find a lot more stuff without paying. Sigh.

In the end I haven't done anything with it. Like you I've been flip-flopping between offering it and sitting on it. I suppose if I flip-flop long enough the idea will just go away and my decision will derive from my inability to make a decision.

I can only say, if you include it, I don't think it should be a free ebook, as that will find it's way into the hands of every thief in the neighborhood.

I agree with everyone else Michael, leave that section out of your book. The seedy side of the Internet is no different than the seedy section of any big city - everyone knows it exists and there is no need for a legitimate publication to give directions to it.

Let us know when your book is ready, if it has any innovative techniques for thwarting digital property theft then it is sure to be a success.

Best of luck with it.

Bill

Michael,
Thanks for offering the ebook. It will prove to be a very valuable addition to people who publish ebooks online as we do not want our hard work to be stolen and distributed, or even worse, sold under someone else's name.

I think you should leave out the list. That way you can protect your character and reputation.

Rebecca, the digital lockdown pro software you mentioned looks really similar to another tool I've come across - White Knight Protector

I've actually bought 2 ebooks with this tool installed on the PDF. Basically what happens is it'll request a validation code that you'll have to provide the customer. The customer then enters the code to unlock the ebook (the software will have to connect to the internet to validate this code), and it will attempt to validate the ebook everytime you try to open it, again by connecting to the internet.

Because many ebook self-publishers are stubborn about how
they aren't going to spend a dime more than necessary
getting their book out, they're stuck with getting their
book shared around as well. Parsimony always leads
down a road of fewer options.

The best solution is to print your book and mail it. Cuts
refunding way down generally. Costs more, establishes
you as a "real" author somewhat. Can have an ISBN,
sold anywhere, flashed at prospective clients to impress
them, You'll make less money, but the opportunity to
backend the sale is substantial because the book will
sit around in the buyer's house, not languish forgotten
on the hard drive, so by default you'll attain some sort
of top-of-mind awareness within owners of the book
you wouldn't get selling an ebook.

Another solution is to put amazing free bonuses (a salesletter
about them really) at the back of the book - like access to
the latest video trainings on the topic in your secret
membership site. What should happen, if your pitch
at the back of the book is good, is people who got the
book for free will come and buy it to get the bonuses.

In this way you put the reality of file sharing to work
for you to increase your sales.

My impression would be to leave the section out.

With all the new tools from Adobe Acrobat® ebook authors have the ability to track a lot of info about their readers and buyers.

You may even put an optin form into your pdf ebook and encourage all folks who have a copy to register for free upgrades.

The author may even entice the reader to upgrade to receive coupons or other incentives.

At least the 'real' folks who have a copy and are interested in the content have a chance to join your list and learn more.

The pdf 'portfolio' also provides the pdf author 'stealth' potential for tracking, verifying and delivering 'upgrade' content only to be unlocked at a future date or event trigger.

Embedding multimedia content (video in pdf, audio in pdf etc.) also provide some very advanced options for the pdf author i.e., opening browsers, browser redirects and optin forms with redirects...transmitting changing video and audio content...as well as live video.

Some really cool stuff coming in pdf files this year.

Warmest Regards,

Paul Richardson

I've used some similar technology on a private membership site. PDF access locking, tracking and retroactive rights access. Preventing Screenshots, Copy and pasting and printing. Costing about 10000usd/month, but nothing when you're making 7 figure profits.

With these other services, I don't know if they can prevent the above from happening.

There have been threads deleted mentioning these places, and for a free eBook i'd agree that mentioning these places is not a good idea.

HOWEVER: I do think legitimate eBook publishers should know where there products are most likely being released for free. So a resource (be it hidden, membership access, paid, whatever) SHOULD exist for eBook publishers to find these sources and keep track of their profit leaks.

I know Micheal has his own product, but has anyone used any of these for stamping paypal transaction ID and/or buyer e-mail address onto the book?

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