How do you stop your digital products being STOLEN?

37 replies
Hi warriors,

I am on the way to releasing my first product, but I've hit a snag. How do I do digital product delivery without getting my product stolen? Digtalproductdelivery.com seems like a good way to go, but do you have any other options? Preferably one without huge scrpts to install
#digital #products #stolen #stop
  • Profile picture of the author Jesus Perez
    E-Junkie can do it. Use coupon code "CRAFTBOOM" for a 104 day trial.

    I personally recommend Sam's DLGuard. Super-easy installation.
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  • I'd like to second the vote for E-Junkie. They allow you to upload your download to their server and they provide dynamic links that expire at a time that you set.

    Caroline
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  • Profile picture of the author write-stuff
    While it wouldn't stop people from passing around .pdfs that they've purchased, this would certainly slow them down a bit. If you had the ability to have the purchaser's name or email automatically printed into your .pdf when it was downloaded, would that be a service that would interest you?
    - Russ
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    • Profile picture of the author Andrew E.
      Originally Posted by write-stuff View Post

      While it wouldn't stop people from passing around .pdfs that they've purchased, this would certainly slow them down a bit. If you had the ability to have the purchaser's name or email automatically printed into your .pdf when it was downloaded, would that be a service that would interest you?
      - Russ
      Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

      Perhaps embed their name and/or eMail in the PDF, both visibly and hidden. Then, you'll know who distributed it.
      Hi Folks,

      We've been developing a service that will do just that. Please send me a PM if any one of you would be interested in taking part in alpha testing, which we will be conducting soon.

      Andrew E.
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      • Profile picture of the author sam12six
        That's awesome! I'd even add branding their CC# onto the PDF. While they can still use fake info and/or a prepaid, disposable card, I'd be willing to bet nobody's going to casually distribute a PDF that has their name, email, and CC info...

        Originally Posted by TwoVectors View Post

        Hi Folks,

        We've been developing a service that will do just that. Please send me a PM if any one of you would be interested in taking part in alpha testing, which we will be conducting soon.

        Andrew E.
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        • Profile picture of the author kswr123
          I know. What's better still. I think hey could replace the service Ive been getting from digitalproductdelivery.com, because they host the product and make it avaliable for download. But will it work with paydotcom, as most people get sales from affiliate programmes, and if this stops the affiliate's comission, it stops the sales rolling in
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        • Profile picture of the author Andrew E.
          Originally Posted by sam12six View Post

          That's awesome! I'd even add branding their CC# onto the PDF. While they can still use fake info and/or a prepaid, disposable card, I'd be willing to bet nobody's going to casually distribute a PDF that has their name, email, and CC info...
          We've thought about that, but there are some issues:

          1. Most carts don't forward CC info for security reasons.
          2. You would want to have an SSL connection to pass that info from the cart to your site (if you use an offsite cart, like 1SC)
          3. Publicly (although you don't really think it is public, but it is) printing a CC number in a book is a HUGE liability on your part.

          Our service will not allow people to put CC numbers, Social's, or other sensitive data of the sort in their PDF's, just cause it's too big of a lawsuit waiting to happen. Trust me, we've thought it out numerous times.

          I think that emails, full names, phone numbers and physical addresses are a good enough deterent against sharing PDF's. All that info is available in public records in one form or another, so it's not that big of a deal to reproduce it.
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          • Profile picture of the author sam12six
            I agree with your first 2 issues. This would almost have to be built into the checkout system - not really feasible for an add-on service.

            The liability/lawsuit issue I don't see. You gave me your CC# in a secure transaction to purchase the product then I gave you the purchasing info you used in the same secure manner. It's like a receipt. Now, should that PDF now find its way onto rapidshare to be downloaded by all your buddies, who's to blame?

            For any legitimate use, I don't see a problem. If you want to print it out and carry it around with you, 5 seconds with a sharpie will take care of the sensitive info. If you want to send the product to someone else, then you have to trust them enough to do so.

            I'm not arguing or trying to talk you into including it in your service, but I'd love a shopping cart that had this built in as an option.

            Originally Posted by TwoVectors View Post

            We've thought about that, but there are some issues:

            1. Most carts don't forward CC info for security reasons.
            2. You would want to have an SSL connection to pass that info from the cart to your site (if you use an offsite cart, like 1SC)
            3. Publicly (although you don't really think it is public, but it is) printing a CC number in a book is a HUGE liability on your part.

            Our service will not allow people to put CC numbers, Social's, or other sensitive data of the sort in their PDF's, just cause it's too big of a lawsuit waiting to happen. Trust me, we've thought it out numerous times.

            I think that emails, full names, phone numbers and physical addresses are a good enough deterent against sharing PDF's. All that info is available in public records in one form or another, so it's not that big of a deal to reproduce it.
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            • Profile picture of the author Andrew E.
              Originally Posted by sam12six View Post

              I agree with your first 2 issues. This would almost have to be built into the checkout system - not really feasible for an add-on service.

              The liability/lawsuit issue I don't see. You gave me your CC# in a secure transaction to purchase the product then I gave you the purchasing info you used in the same secure manner. It's like a receipt. Now, should that PDF now find its way onto rapidshare to be downloaded by all your buddies, who's to blame?

              For any legitimate use, I don't see a problem. If you want to print it out and carry it around with you, 5 seconds with a sharpie will take care of the sensitive info. If you want to send the product to someone else, then you have to trust them enough to do so.

              I'm not arguing or trying to talk you into including it in your service, but I'd love a shopping cart that had this built in as an option.
              You're right, it is a sort of recipt, but think of it this way:

              If you use your credit card to buy something, you get a receipt, and on that receipt is your CC number, but only the last 4 digits.

              They obscure the other numbers for a reason: what if that receipt fell into the wrong hands? Big Trouble.

              It's not out of the realm of possibility that a person's computer or email can be compromised. At that point, whose fault is it when someone has their identity or credit cart account stolen? The unlucky person who had an unpredictable security breach (really, you can't blame a person for being a fool and not having the right sort of firewall/anti-virus), or the company who knowingly and willingly placed sensitive customer information (unencrypted, may I ask), in an unsecured, easily readable and shareable format?

              Then the lawyers come: frivolous or not, it would still cost time and money to fight a lawsuit.

              Not trying to argue, just wanted you to know what we were thinking.
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              • Profile picture of the author sam12six
                Originally Posted by TwoVectors View Post

                You're right, it is a sort of recipt, but think of it this way:

                If you use your credit card to buy something, you get a receipt, and on that receipt is your CC number, but only the last 4 digits.

                They obscure the other numbers for a reason: what if that receipt fell into the wrong hands? Big Trouble.

                It's not out of the realm of possibility that a person's computer or email can be compromised. At that point, whose fault is it when someone has their identity or credit cart account stolen? The unlucky person who had an unpredictable security breach (really, you can't blame a person for being a fool and not having the right sort of firewall/anti-virus), or the company who knowingly and willingly placed sensitive customer information (unencrypted, may I ask), in an unsecured, easily readable and shareable format?

                Then the lawyers come: frivolous or not, it would still cost time and money to fight a lawsuit.

                Not trying to argue, just wanted you to know what we were thinking.

                I most definitely CAN blame someone for being a fool!! Heh, but you're right - I seriously doubt a judge would agree with me about who their foolishness places the burden of liability on...
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            • Profile picture of the author ripsnorta2
              Well, instead of a credit card number, how about the billing details?

              Have a section in the front of the eBook that says this book is licenced to Joe Blow, 22 Cantstealthis Lane, Springfield... Ph 123 4567890.

              A number of software applications already do this.
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              • Profile picture of the author Andrew E.
                Originally Posted by ripsnorta2 View Post

                Well, instead of a credit card number, how about the billing details?

                Have a section in the front of the eBook that says this book is licenced to Joe Blow, 22 Cantstealthis Lane, Springfield... Ph 123 4567890.

                A number of software applications already do this.
                That's the idea.

                We hope to provide ebook customization services too.

                In effect, Hi, FNAME would become Hi, Frank in a free report you offer, or something like that. Same concept, different implementation.
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        • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
          Originally Posted by sam12six View Post

          That's awesome! I'd even add branding their CC# onto the PDF. While they can still use fake info and/or a prepaid, disposable card, I'd be willing to bet nobody's going to casually distribute a PDF that has their name, email, and CC info...
          haha...great idea
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          • Profile picture of the author kswr123
            Great point. If I was a consumer and I bought a product and suddenly allof my details were on it, Id be a little freaked out. Also another Qu:

            When they click to buy the product, at what point do they enter their name and email
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        • Profile picture of the author Floyd Fisher
          Originally Posted by sam12six View Post

          That's awesome! I'd even add branding their CC# onto the PDF. While they can still use fake info and/or a prepaid, disposable card, I'd be willing to bet nobody's going to casually distribute a PDF that has their name, email, and CC info...
          Putting their CC# into the PDF is just asking to have your ass beaten.

          Someone hacks into the computer, steals the pdf, and presto! Instant ID fraud.
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  • Profile picture of the author Imran Naseem
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author kswr123
      so what can I use to digitally deliver products? I would want something that works with Paydotcom
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    • Profile picture of the author edpudol1973
      Originally Posted by Imran Naseem View Post

      There will never be a way to stop this. Once they have your PDF they upload the pdf to sites like Rapidshare and Media fire.
      I agree with you, there is no way to protect your digital products being stolen on the net. I have also many scripts that was stolen and resell and give it away by other people
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  • Profile picture of the author AverageGuy
    well, if you just started, and sales is not predicted to be huge, you can always manual email them once the payment is confirmed. just setup a thankyou page, and tell the buyer that it needs confirmation, and you will send the download link or as email attachment within 12-24 hours.

    Many sellers will say this is time consuming. However, this is a great way to communicate with your buyers. you can send them a very personal email for the download link. and then after several days, send them another email to aks them whether they got it. it shows that you care them, and it will help you market to them at late time.

    To us, each buyer is a potantial future buyer, and they have much much higher conversion rate than new buyers.

    good luck


    david
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    • Profile picture of the author kswr123
      however if I email it to them as an attatchment, there is nothing to stop them from just giving it away to whoever they want.
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      • Profile picture of the author write-stuff
        See the 4th message in this thread...

        Originally Posted by saq3m View Post

        however if I email it to them as an attatchment, there is nothing to stop them from just giving it away to whoever they want.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
        Originally Posted by saq3m View Post

        however if I email it to them as an attatchment, there is nothing to stop them from just giving it away to whoever they want.
        Perhaps embed their name and/or eMail in the PDF, both visibly and hidden. Then, you'll know who distributed it.
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        • Profile picture of the author write-stuff
          Hi, Dan. That's what I was suggesting in the 4th message in this thread. Do you think it's an idea people would like? - Rus

          Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

          Perhaps embed their name and/or eMail in the PDF, both visibly and hidden. Then, you'll know who distributed it.
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          • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
            Originally Posted by write-stuff View Post

            Hi, Dan. That's what I was suggesting in the 4th message in this thread. Do you think it's an idea people would like? - Rus
            It would have to be something that would not be easy to remove.

            I think it would be good to have it visibly on the eBook, where it would say something like "This eBook licensed to..." And, also have it hidden (perhaps in white) so that they wouldn't immediately see it and think that editing out the visible name would do the trick.

            Also, it could be imprinted on every page of the eBook at the bottom perhaps.

            But, on the other hand, it probably doesn't accomplish anything. After all, if I'm a thief, I just use a fake name. Maybe it makes it a little easier to track a purchaser down, but then is that really much of an advantage in trying to stop it being freely distributed?
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  • Profile picture of the author AverageGuy
    there is no way to stop passing around the pdf file, unless you force them to connect to server to verify identity. it is not a good way to sell pdf.



    david
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  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    yes it would be a service thst i would consider
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  • Profile picture of the author ElizabethAdams


    Hello, saq3m ...

    BlueSquares recommended Sam's DLGuard, and I do, too.
    I especially like the receipt it gives to the buyer.

    Here's a little tip to go with it:

    Have the "download" be a ReadMe.txt file. Inside that,
    put a link to a password-protected page, and instruct
    your purchaser to use the email address they bought
    the product with, and a password you specify (which
    they can change once they're inside, if you set it up
    that way).

    Once they're on the other side of your login form,
    the sky's the limit. You can do anything you want,
    set it up any way you like. You can provide a simple
    download link for starters. You can add additional
    helpful information at any time, including but not
    limited to a forum where they can go to get their
    questions answered ... limitless possibilities!

    Also, when you set it up like this, your buyers
    can go get their download whenever they like.
    It's not necessary to put a time limit on it
    in order to protect it because it's already
    protected.

    Try it! I think you will like it.

    Regards, Elizabeth ...

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  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    ok thanks. But are there any other digital delivery services that work with Paydotcom
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    • Profile picture of the author Victoria Gates
      Originally Posted by saq3m View Post

      ok thanks. But are there any other digital delivery services that work with Paydotcom
      The type of service you use to promote your digital product wont matter. What you need to think about is protecting the download they get after paying. So in this case pretty much anything works with PayDotCom.
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      Victoria Gates - Digital Marketing Specialist

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  • Profile picture of the author jonhel
    The PDFs that I have purchased from Sitepoint have this already - it's a pain though because you've got to remember the password each time you open the file.

    I develop digital products using an ebook compiler with inbuilt security and use a backend php/MySQL system which integrates with Paypal. The files can't be shared or copied.
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  • Profile picture of the author ronnie11
    how about lock the file to the computer it is downloaded to and first opened with??? Something like this could help!
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  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    jonhel, wht program are you talking about?
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  • Profile picture of the author rohit.arora
    Use IntelliProtector, that's the best you can do.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kelly Monaco
    It is almost impossible to guarantee that your intellectual property won't be stolen.
    In the long run you will need to build your reputation to the point that you are widely recognised and linked to your product. An extreme example of this is how everyone knows that Eben Pagan started Get Altitude.
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  • Profile picture of the author richdirtygirl
    Originally Posted by saq3m View Post

    Hi warriors,

    I am on the way to releasing my first product, but I've hit a snag. How do I do digital product delivery without getting my product stolen? Digtalproductdelivery.com seems like a good way to go, but do you have any other options? Preferably one without huge scrpts to install
    Sorry honey,

    but... who cares?

    When you put something out there, I WILL be stolen here and there, it WILL be copied and reworded here and there.

    And the better your products, the more likely to happen...

    What I do is to add a link to a nice unadvertised bonus in the docs, if someone gets it by chance and I still don't have their contact info, I make sure they will come and register to a list to get more. And then I got a lead for free.

    Some will never buy... but people changes over time, and most freebie seekers are willing to open the wallet sooner or later.

    RDG :p
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  • Profile picture of the author kswr123
    i guess that that s true.
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    • Profile picture of the author cashtech29
      Do to the nature of my niche, I have many products that need to be protected.
      I use a program called "DLGuard" with it you can secure as many products as your
      server will hold.
      It is great for single item sales and it also works great for memberships.

      I've also been skeptical about the software that is on the market today
      but I've been with DLGuard for a couple of years now and I use it for my membership site that holds hundreds of products and I have been well pleased with it so far.

      I think that one of the biggest things that made me stay with DLGuard is the
      customer service.
      Sam stephens, the maker of the software will install the program for you on your server
      if it is not something that you want to do yourself.

      Sam's customer support is second to none.
      Any time I've had a question about something
      He has always been quick with a smile and
      never becomes irritated when someone needs help with the program.

      I would definitely go with DLGuard!
      Cheers.
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