E-book security via PDF stamping (a DRM alternative)

[E-junkie_Chef]

For our merchants selling e-books in PDF format, we have been working on a couple of ways to protect their PDFs from distribution.



We tried the DRM angle, but it was really making the buyer experience poor, was not supported by all the PDF readers and it was apparent that in various scenarios, it can cause additional customer support issues for the merchants to handle. So, we decided to scrap that.



And then we worked on the PDF stamping feature .. basically, we can now stamp the buyer's name, e-mail and the transaction ID on the top-left of each page of the PDF before the download. Unlike DRM, this is a simple, non-intrusive way to discourage buyers from sharing their PDFs.



EDIT: Please see current documentation for PDF Stamping in our help pages here:

http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/selling-ebooks.htm

[payloadmedia]

This sounds like just what I need. I have one quick question. Does this work if the PDF file is zipped?

[E-junkie_Guru]

This will not work if your PDF file was uploaded within a .zip file. It will only work with PDFs uploaded as an actual .pdf file.

[pcunix]

How would this work for updates I send out with Semd Updates/Newsletter ?

[payloadmedia]

Is there any possibility that support for zipped PDF files could be added? It seems to me it shouldn't be too tough to unzip, stamp and re-zip the PDF file.....

[E-junkie_Chef]

pcunixHow would this work for updates I send out with Semd Updates/Newsletter ?

It won't work with that or the free links. It will only work for checkout (free or paid)

[E-junkie_Chef]

PayloadMediaIs there any possibility that support for zipped PDF files could be added? It seems to me it shouldn't be too tough to unzip, stamp and re-zip the PDF file.....

If more people start using the stamping feature and we find this to be a common request, we'll do this.

[pcunix]

Nice feature but it's useless to me because I regularly send free updates.

[zack]

1)How about secured pdf, the one with security password added for opening and editing the pdf.. Is it still works?



2)Without zip function we will on disadvantages, the pdf will automatically load to browser and if user didn't save it and we have limitation to 3 times download the user will face this is not user friendly.. If we using zip this will go directly to their hard drive..

[E-junkie_Chef]

Zack1)How about secured pdf, the one with security password added for opening and editing the pdf.. Is it still works?

Yes, the URL I've mentioned above has a parameter which lets you specify the password.

Zack2)Without zip function we will on disadvantages, the pdf will automatically load to browser and if user didn't save it and we have limitation to 3 times download the user will face this is not user friendly.. If we using zip this will go directly to their hard drive..

Any file being served via E-junkie, whether it's a ZIP or a PDF .. will prompt the user with the option to either save it, or open it.

[E-junkie_Chef]

Just wanted to post that we've updated our code so we can now also handle pages which have images covering the whole page.

[mrcracker]

Awesome! Will add it to my next product. This is just what I need.

[enhu]

i easily got lost there. is there a video tutorial for this? lol

[elly]

pcunixHow would this work for updates I send out with Semd Updates/Newsletter ?

Could you make the updates available as a free download and just send the link to the update page only to your list of registered buyers - surely that would do the trick? (No-one but a registered buyer would get access to the download link - and you could still use the stamping feature so your updating buyers will still be discouraged from "sharing" theri updated files)



Hope this helps!

[gatsby]

I'm doing exactly what the PDF instructs me to do. I am not able to get the stamping on either a password protected PDF or a regular unprotected PDF.



I put a check mark next to "Send Transaction Data To A URL", then hit next, then in the "Payment Variable Information URL" I type in "http://www.ejunkie.com/ecom/oplug.php?ej_stamp_pdf=true&pdf_pwd=gatsby92%%320#&pdf_allow_copy=n&pdf_allow_print=y"



I do the same thing for an unprotected PDF but I take out "&pdf_pwd=gatsby92%%320#"



Why isn't this working for me? Can I use % and # in the password? Am I putting a check next to the correct boxes?

[gatsby]

I'm also downloading it using a "Free download Code", maybe this is why it isn't showing up?

[gatsby]

also...does this security work if we are hosting the file on the e-junkie server?

[gatsby]

also...does this security work if we are hosting the file on the e-junkie server?

[matthewcornell]

4 in "A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND" seems like a deal-breaker, no?

[E-junkie_Guru]

@Gatsby:

I think your PDF file password could be the problem. It's got some characters that work as special characters in a URL, and since you need to put the password as-is into your Payment Variable Info URL for the PDF stamping, that isn't going to work. Try changing your PDF password to something entirely alphanumeric, or at least limit your use of symbols to these: $-_,+!*'().



@MatthewCornell:

Not sure I follow what you mean? Caveat #4 only affects the buyer's original download link. If you send out an update newsletter with fresh links, or use the "Send free download link" feature in Seller Admin, that sends a new link for the most current edition of the file.