Why you need security on your ebook

9 replies
Before anyone says, a person can always break the security, I know that. It isn't about how secure the security is on ebook.

I recently sold an ebook which came with personal rights. The rights on the sales page and inside the book were:-

[YES] Can be used for personal use
[NO] Can be given away
[NO] Can be packaged
[NO] Can be offered as a bonus
[NO] Can be edited and your name put on it.
[NO] Can be used as web content
[NO] Can be broken down into smaller articles
[NO] Can be added to an e-Course or autoresponder as content
[NO] Can be submitted to article directories
[NO] Can be added to paid membership sites
[NO] Can be added to an ebook/PDF as content
[NO] Can be offered through auction sites
[NO] Can sell Resale Rights
[NO] Can sell Master Resale Rights
[NO] Can sell Private Label Rights


I had security on the book which didn't allow copying.


I received an email to ask how the person could copy the book because they wanted to use it as webcopy.


Now, I am not saying anything about the person who asked, because they did ask. They explained what they had wanted to do. It was all dealt with in a professional manner.


The thing that struck me was this. If I hadn't put security on the book, then the person would have done exactly what they wanted but illegally, because they didn't have the rights to do it.


How many times have people assumed the rights because they didn't understand them, and because they could copy and paste they did.
#ebook #security
  • Profile picture of the author nick1123
    This happens and there is just not a lot we can do about it. Try to secure it as best as you can and make your distribution rules as clear as possible.

    And then try not to worry as everything else is out of your circle of control/influence.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyrus Antas
    The question is: does the investment in time "protecting" your digital assets provide a positive return?

    Tyrus
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  • Profile picture of the author Bev Clement
    The investment in time putting the security on the ebook was about 2 seconds.

    I'm not sure you both read and understood the post. The benefit of having the security was the person asked how they could copy and paste the information to use it. No security would have meant they did it because they could copy and paste.

    The rights would have been ignored, because the copy and paste was available.
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  • Profile picture of the author LB
    There are about 100 programs online that will strip protection off a PDF in literally seconds.

    I've tried them myself...I protected a PDF and disabled copy/paste with a password like "$%gdfg^%$ERG%^Hhfh$%^&%&" and it was raw text in about 4 seconds.

    Unfortunately, the criminals are well aware of this.

    I still put that copy protection there for cases like you state...but the "bad guys" know exactly how to break into the documents.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Bev - I have a contrarian view of this topic.

    I wouldn't mention "rights" except as "you may NOT share, sell or give away any part of this book". As there is only ONE way permissible to use the ebook - why list a bunch of "no" statements?

    When you mention "personal rights" - some will misinterpret the phrase. We see posts here from those with no idea what different "rights" mean Might be better to use the term "personal use only" and avoid the use of the word "rights".

    Disallowing copy/paste accomplishes nothing because the bad buyer can just re-type the text if he wants. It will tick off some good buyers, though, who expect functionality in products they purchase. The only way to fully protect a book is not to allow anyone to read it.

    When I buy an ebook I expect to be able to USE it. That includes the capability to print a copy and/or to copy/paste to create my own cliffnotes of the book. Recently I've purchased ebooks with print and copy/paste disallowed.

    I requested refunds on those. The seller's focus was on protecting his product from a few bad or numbskull buyers - not on providing the best user experience for honest buyers. I won't buy from those people again.

    kay
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  • Profile picture of the author Akky
    I was thinking about an idea of opening a website which offer license key for PDF files and only members who download it gets the license key.. Hmm Kinda like software activation but those bloody hackers still crack it.. Hummingbird (Twitter Friendadder) got cracked it is being given away In BlackHatWorld! We really need to think of something..

    G'day,
    Akky
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyrus Antas
    There are a lot of valid uses for copy pasting material you've bough. I think you might be overreacting. Most people won't try to "steal from you". And those who will, won't benefit much from it. And neither you will lose a lot.

    Tyrus
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  • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
    I think adding no copy and paste to e-books is a bad idea...

    I have done it occasionally... but I know from my own reading that I like to copy and paste the content into a open office document for easier note making..

    In the long run, I couldn't care less what people do with the content of my products..

    Why?

    Nobody can copy and paste ME that's not me bragging, I'm just saying.. your customers can copy and paste content to their hearts content, but they won't be able to copy and paste the support and personal knowledge that YOU can share..

    That's where the real good stuff in this business lies....

    I could rip off Mass Control from Frank.. but I can't copy and paste his brain.. and no customer can do that to you. In the abundant world we live in.. occasional clipping of your work is nothing... in my opinion.

    I'd rather leave the door open for those who like to use copy and paste for notes. This might run the risk of others using it for web content.. but that's a price I'm prepared to pay for having my customer find it easier to take notes, and as a result.. create a more actionable plan from my content just how they want it

    Peace

    Jay

    p.s. It'd take me only 5 minutes to unlock a secured .pdf, so they're pretty useless anyways....lol
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