If you don't let me copy, I won't buy

[robinev]

[Sorry. Didn't mean to make this a top post. It relates to a discussion of tricks that can be used to prevent a user from copying items on a web page.]

If I'm shopping for something and come across a site that employs these high-schoolish tricks to prevent copying, I will move on. Bye. You're not getting my business.

If I'm comparing products I sometimes find it useful to copy the text or pictures and price from one site to be able to put them next to similar items copied from another site. (Microsoft OneNote does a great job with that kind of thing.)

That's a method I like to use. But if a store keeper is so paranoid that they employ tricks to defeat a browser's built-in features, I can't shop the way I'd like to shop. I think of it as somewhat like a storekeeper slapping the hands of a custumer who tries to pick up an item in a physical store.

Go for it if it makes you feel good to slap at your customers. But I'm one of the folks who'd stay away and tell anyone thinking of going to the slap-happy place to stay away as well.

[HardCoded]

Yeah, I immediately think 'amateur' when I see it as well.

I especially like it when people ask for design help in these forums and then I get to their site and have to do extra stuff just to help them.

[robinev]

Yeah. I have noticed that most of the sites that resort copy-blocking tricks have very little that's worth copying.

Another thing folks might want to consider before blocking the right mouse button is all the bloggers out there who comment on very odd things.

If you have a store with something notable about it, there's probably a blogger somewhere out there who will eventually find it and try to post a comment. At least until discovering that the blogging call on the right button is turned off by a rude web site.

She might still make the extra effort to comment. But it probably won't be a favorable notice.

[matauri]

Totally agree guys! Cant count the amount of ppl I have tried to convince not to use these tactics.... yet somehow they always seem to think that it will work wonders for them... surprise surprise... waste of time! Worst I find ... is when a 'designer' wants to use them. PPP-lease!

I also do the same as you Robinev, I will collect to compare before buying online. And businesses that do employ these tactics lose me from the onset.

[mushroom]

Originally Posted by matauri

Totally agree guys!

Tricks like that only stop the harmless casual copy and are very user unfreindly.

The rule is IF IS DISPLAYED ON TO SCREEN IT CAN BE COPIED. no ifs ands or buts.

[WoWzers]

The best is the people who disable right clicking on the site, but then allow people with IE to File-Save As, making a complete copy of their entire site w/ graphics on a hard drive.

lol