Best Way To Protect Your Audio Files Against Copying?

You know what... Theifs are going to work their ways around anything... So you donot really need to worry about that.

I realize nothing will stop them 100% but I would at least like to put up a fence to stop the people that share among friends.

The only way is to not publish them.

There is no way to stop your audio files from being copied.

Zero zilch nada nothing.

You are far better off focusing on marketing than biting your nails over DRM for audio.

Embedding in a player caches the file on the local computer when it is played.
A file downloaded is a file shared.
A podcasted file can be duplicated and the feed can be sourced and location uncovered.
Streaming media server stops the cache but does not block source snoopers like Download Helper that can download the file in one click.

I have a few systems that obfusciate the source for the average user but they only keep the honest honest. You wont be able to stop a thief who is dedicated to finding a way.

One way I use is in our Nanacast.com publishing system you can publish a podcast of your audio file and make it premium so that only paid people can access the feed. Then our system generates a feed for each individual subscriber automatically and you as the publisher can set security setting like how many times can the feed be accessed a day or a lifetime.

Then the publsher can choose whether the feed url is displayed or not or whether it is delivered via one click subscription opening the podcatcher or their choice iTunes being the best choice.

If you were to set the feed access to one time lifetime then you could in theory block them from accessing the source feed again and discovering the file paths online and they then would listen to the files on their computer if they had correctly accessed the feed and downloaded the files the first time.

This however does cause some customer service because not everyone knows how to use iTunes perfectly enough to ping a feed one time and download all the episodes.

We pretty much leave it up to publishers using Nanacast.com how they want to use these security features but again I personally do not think it wise to assign a one time only access to a feed because I would rather focus on marketing to buyers than answering tech support emails to clients who messed up even though the process can be fairly simple for subscribing and getting the content.

Additionally the Nanacast system will automatically create secure members areas where audio players can be embedded to deliver content but again the file once streamed is cached on the users computer in their temporary internet files (as are all progressive streaming media content) and though my own players can obfuscate the source paths via javascript includes and xml files the truly dedicated snooper could dig for it.

Interesting post and a great explanation Josh, well done.

Sami

As mentioned, if they want it, they will find a way to get it. On the other hand, not every surfer comes to steal your stuff, and not every surfer uses plug-ins like download helper.

If it's a blog, there are a couple of simple audio players that just play the mp3, no download links. Of course not 100%, but not every one is out to take..

If you can hear it through your speakers you can record it.

The best thing to do is make sure you mention a URL or two in each recording that either points someone to join your mailing list or recommends a product you are selling that will make you a commission.

Always monetize "EVERYTHING" you put out in some shape or form.

Did I say "EVERYTHING" ?

Re's
Rob Whisonant

I agree with Josh, concentrate on marketing rather than stopping thieves as you can't stop your files from getting copied.

In fact, as Tom and Rob pointed out you can make this work in your favour. Mention some of your products and services in the audio and if anyone does distribute your files you are getting free advertising.

In the early days I used to be so hung up about protecting my files but now I just make sure if my files are shared I get something from it by linking to my other products and services.

John