How can i stop others copying text from my site?

[noel123]

Hi folks, i have a large directory which has taken hours to type up etc and people are now copying it. How can I stop them? I have the copyright logo etc at the bottom of each page but this doesn't stop them. Please help.

[moby302]

I believe that you can insert some sort of digital signature or something like that that will either show up when someone pastes the stuff, or something like that, I am not that sure if it works with text tho, also you could investigate the possibility of not allowed anything on the page to be copied, not sure how it works either but I know that on some of the auto pages I go to you cannot copy content, I guess you would have to check with someone who knows more, but I am sure that it can be prevented somehow.

[carju1]

Hi Noel123,

The basic answer is you can't. For a full and indepth discussion on this very subject have a look at this thread (http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=268).

Carju1

[Andilinks]

There does seem to be a JavaScript that will do the trick, it is here:

http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17108

However as is also noted in that thread, simply disabling JavaScript will allow copying. A theif will not be stopped, but legitimate users may well be annoyed.

When I encounter a site with a disabled right-click, I think "clueless webmaster."

carju1 is right, you can't stop copying.

Directory entries cannot be copyrighted, only additional text. The actual names, addresses, links, etc. are available from many sources and are not themselves unique to your site.

Andi

[Markll]

Put your content into a import protected SWF file and do not use selectable text.

Another way would be to make an image file of your text. Although, this will not keep anyone from copying the image, you can embed a digital signiture into the image file that would make it easier to enforce your copyright.

In the end you can't stop someone from just copying your text by retyping it manually website.

[Dragonsi]

If this is any help, here's the UK's copyright law and information on how to copyright your content by law and enforcing or sueing someone for breach of copyright...

www.copyrightservice.co.uk

[rackaid]

I will say it again in this thread ...
If you send your content to your client's browser, it can be copied.

You can make it more difficult to copy (or even very difficult) but if you send the data to the client, they the client can always copy it. An easy way is packet recording and replay where you simply locally trap the entire datastream and replay it. The latter requires a fair amount of network skill.


Javascript tricks are largely useless except for the most naive. Most of these tricks do not prevent someone from simply saving a local copy of the page and then looking at the source directly.


For images, look into digital water marking. The latter can help you identify people whom has stolen your content.

[Andilinks]

Most of these tricks do not prevent someone from simply saving a local copy of the page and then looking at the source directly.


Quite true, but it easier than that. View > Source in IE and it will open in Notepad. Do a find/replace on the word "script" with "" and then save that file. Change the extension back to .htm and open it with your browser. This whole operation will take less than 60 seconds... Anyone not bright enough to do this is not a threat as a content thief anyway.

Anything that makes text difficult to copy like images or .swf files will be invisible to search engines.

Andi

[seny]

I often submit my work to ProtectMyWork.com (http://www.protectmywork.com). If any uses my stuff without permission or paying me I have some proof.

[pedstersplanet]

This thread reminds me of this one (http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=31605) a bit..... Granted, not the same as the topic here but its still copied.

My 5p worth

[danielle v2.1b]

Whilst admitedly there is no way of stopping a techhie hacking your content there is a lot you can do to put people off.

A blank empty layer placed over your copy stops people copy and pasting directly for example, even when performed as CTRL+C since no text selection is possible.

For code, you can encrypt it and there are javascripts which will frustrate developers who try and view your source by turning it into apparently meaningless gibber. This is called using a Source Code Obfuscator. Whilst many can read HTML, few can read ASCII! See http://www.semdesigns.com/Products/Obfuscators/index.html for an example

A lot depends upon the content you are trying to protect. Making it in images or swf files will reduce the SEO-ability of your pages, but anyone who wants to copy would be forced to type up your work by hand.

Ultimately, people will always be able to steal ideas, phrases etc, but the best strategy normally is to make it hard enough work that it deters 90+% of people. Those who bother are then more likely to be those with a commercial interest and so your copyright will be there if you find their usage unacceptable.

[Claud]

I say it doesn't worth spending the time to protect your site too much, people that really want a copy of yours will get it anyway, and they will not go and copy directly from the site by selecting the text and pasting that or from the source, they will use automatic tools like TeleportPro so it's not much you can do if you want to leave the text like it is. As suggested above you could transform your text into images but I assume that because you have a directory that will take a lot of time.

So my opinion it's not to bother, just search for
similar pages and if you find pages that are too similar with yours send them a "threatening" email.

[thewitness42]

Hi folks, i have a large directory which has taken hours to type up etc and people are now copying it. How can I stop them? I have the copyright logo etc at the bottom of each page but this doesn't stop them. Please help.
There really is no way to stop what you call a thief, but why stop them , just say that you do not mind as long as they use/put a credit to your site and if they have a site put a link from their site to yours , that way you will get a lot of traffc and free advertising! If you have pictures or other types of things put in a water mark! remember God has a way of working things out :)

[jvm2bmb]

Someone is right in saying it is impossible to stop people from copying from your directory... but u can always try to make copying it a little difficult.

1. Flash has a way of making database content appear as pictures. Adding keywords can solve the troubles mentioned regarding search engine visibility.

2. You can make the content appear one at a time.

3. You can also be Entrepreneurial by adding a line like this: "If you want all the information in this site, contact the webmaster." of course, you can give it to them in exchange for something.

4. If you really don't want to have it copied. Don't post it. This is what I usually do. :D

[unitedsocietydonations]

Thank you very much actually I was looking for something like this!