Security: To Verify / Password protect or not to ?

[songinmyheart]

My next issue I would like help sorting through is the whole security issue related to selling digital downloads....preventing piracy as much as possible (I know, it's really not possible!)

Currently I use YouSendIt. There is an option with them to require the customer to verify their identity before the download will process. They have to sign up with yousendit, only with their email, no personal information. This can be a problem but is not really that big of a deal.

The reason I use this option was because I thought it would give me a little bit more "security" because if people pass around the download link, it won't work for anyone else. However, anyone who wants to file share, doesn't really NEED the download link, only the file once downloaded. And of course, I have the download set to expire after 5 attempts. Again, doesn't matter because anyone can share a file once it is downloaded.

So, if that is the case, maybe I should be password protecting the PDF file? Which again, doesn't prevent anything because once the file is opened, it can be copied and reshared as much as desired, as well as sharing the password.

SO, what I'm asking is, Do you think it is better to just make it as easy for the customer as possible by not requiring any security checks on download or passwords, or do you think it is a good thing to make them take that extra step, causing them to go through a little extra effort and therefore, maybe less apt to file share?

I gave up a long time ago worrying too much about this because if you are going to be in the digital download business, you ARE going to be ripped off sooner or later. People think once they buy the download, they are buying the right to do with it whatever they please.

What are your thoughts and how do you protect your files? I just don't want customers getting so frustrated they don't buy from me again.

Thanks! Sorry for the long ramble!

[Former_Member]

Yes this is the big question I was hoping to find answers to!

I have embedded copyright info in my pdf files but I don't suppose it can do much to protect my designs from being printed by all and sundry.

I put a credit on every page too. Not too large but in a place where it would be difficult for an amateur to remove.

I actually refused to sell my designs to some individuals – if they did not have good feedback history or if their history was all artwork/downloads. I cancelled the transaction and refunded their money. But that is tedious.

I'm now thinking of selling my designs as one offs for a much larger fee on the understanding that marketing agents, printers, etc, can print and sell them commercially. A bit like selling stock photography.

Another idea I've had is to only sell pdfs that I have customised in some way. eg the customers name, date of birth, wedding details etc. No one else would want to print them.

I think that using yousendit will put off the honest etsy buyer but not deter those out to profit from our hard work. It would be great if we could join forces and find a way of protecting our property. Software companies have managed to do it.

[mypartydesign]

I have a credit on every page too and I send the pdf files password protected.
It doesn't require a password to open the document or print it, but the customer won't be able to open the file it in any pdf editing software without the password, and therefore won't be able to make any changes or remove the credit.
I think this is enough to stop people from trying to use our work as their own, but they can still redistribute the files. I don't think there's anything we can do about that...

[Former_Member]

... no we can't do anything about that – but I really do trust that most people are honest. Your party decorations are a great idea, mypartydesign. Personally I wouldn't want to have the same theme as my friends!

I'm very curious to know what software you use to password protect your pdf's? It sounds effective enough to prevent designs being copied commercially. I create my pdfs in QuarkXpress and have not seen any password protection settings.

[Former_Member]

I can answer my own question!

Adobe Acrobat has password protection. You can create a pdf in your layout software and open it in Acrobat to add a password. In addition you can limit the resolution to "low 150 dpi" so that the designs will not be viable for large runs of high res commercial litho printing. Short runs of digital printing are still possible though but comparatively expensive.