Image copyright solution

[The Roman]

Hi all ! Ok, this message is not for asking for something to anyone but just to give you something of mine...

How make to respect images copyright on your web site?

The taken actions from a user can be:

- download the web page where is nested the image (using the browser-->File-->Save As...);

- take a screen-shot;

- consult its computer looking for the cache directory (for example Temporary Internet Files);

- print the image;

- execute the entire path going straight to the folder where images are contained visualizing an image in itself

A lot of developers over the web are trying to work around in order to get a goal, someone seems deprived of hope because if the user wants he will catch our image, someone else is convinced that with a couple of line code the problem is solved...

Now guys, I'm sorry but for professional reasons I'm not going to show you pieces of code giving the package in your hands, but I have THE RIGHT SOLUTION IN ORDER TO HAVE AN IMAGE DISPLAYED ON A WEB SITE AND THAT'S IT! All user taken actions mentioned above are 100% covered. Nobody will have a material copy of the image on its local computer unless the author wants to sell it.
What I can do is explain in few steps the theoretical way, which is a tested way on the practical side, trust to me. Even if could seem simple as counting 1 - 2 - 3 I have taken a year studing for this technique:

NOTE: the used technology are Internet Information Server, Active Server Pages, Java Script, Flash. The application cannot be corrupted and works perfect for technical reason only under Microsoft Internet Explorer Browser (all versions) and even if the web page will be saved on the local computer, no images are stored/saved.

• insert every single image (.jpg, .gif, ecc.) inside many swf files
• set IIS in order to lock the cache and to avoid read access on the specific folder containing the swf files
• on the web page write the code to: 1) check if user using I.E. otherwise let him know to get the required browser for your site; 2) visualize the swf file; 3) disable screen-shoot; 4) disable print the page

Bye!
Mauro, a guy from Rome


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[ddadmin]

Wow talk about total overkill, no offense. Bottom line, if the visitor can see your image, he/she can grab it.

[Twey]

Still not a perfect solution. The user can grab the URL from your web page, save the SWF file, decompile the SWF file (there are several free tools to do so out there), and grab the image.

You've made your site dependent on Flash and, worse, IE, for no reason at all. People not using IE will be expelled from your site -- and IE isn't even cross-platform, so you'd be trying to make Windows users spend in excess of $70 (I can't remember the exact price these days, but it's something outrageous) for an closed-source, insecure, crash-prone excuse for an operating system so they can run a closed-source, insecure, crash-prone excuse for a browser, just so they can view your site, and the icing on the cake is that it doesn't actually protect anything anyway.

I don't think people will flock to this one, I'm afraid.

[benslayton]

I'll have to stick with DDadmin on this one. B/C, well let's say, for instance Google done this well all you would have to do is open another browser. Move it down, so it's not covering the Picture, then whoollaa take a screen shot.

Look, see for yourself....

[Twey]

"Whoollaa?"

[djr33]

Not a chance that'll stop people.
turn off javascript.. and you can get the image. Or, do what twey says.
is javascript checked and must be on?


Anyway... please link... i'd love to get around it.


btw, disabling screencaps doesn't work on macs. You lose

[The Roman]

Ei guys, I just tested my application in all the ways you are telling me (this is another reason because I posted my message) and ops... djr33 is right... stupidly I didn't think to the easiest idea: disabling Java Script the screen shot+print page works without any code barries.
Except this point the application still cannot be corrupted: using I.E. is a limitation I am aware of this and to me it's fine, it is not the end of the world; going to Save as... the html it is saved on the local computer but not the swf file; going to execute addresses like www.mysite.com/images/myimage.swf will not work and IIS will tell you that read access is denied; going to Google site window under the application window doesn't work.

Now yes I have a question: there is a code way (maybe asp) to disable print screen+print page ? Or I can stop the user to disable Java Script from its browser? Can I disable print screen+print page through IIS ? Even if I would prefer a code solution or a possible setting of IIS, exist an additional software that can be installed on IIS in order to lock 100% print screen+print page?

Thank you in advance friends

[djr33]

There is NO way, no matter what you do, do stop people from saving your images.

Now, on a purely theoretical quest, sure... there are some ways to do some of what you're saying.

No, asp (and php) and other server side languages won't do a thing about print screen. that's a server side code.
the prnt scrn key is very nice on windows... not sure exactly where it operates, but it's certainly at a lower level (or within) explorer.exe (the main part of the system you see... folders, IE as well, etc).
You will have a lot of trouble getting it disabled.
One thing I thought of was making the user be required to hold down a key to see the image.. "if spacebar, then show image"... because spacebar+prntscrn doesn't do anything... IF that even works.
But that's totally annoying to the users. AND it wouldn't be too compatible, I wouldn't think.

The other thing to do isn't to force javascript, but to not let them in if they don't have JS.
Just run a check to see if they have js running/working. That's how the content should be shown. If JS isn't running, they will get a blank, and maybe a "you need js" error message.


Flash can be decompiled as Twey said. Anything a visitor sees is also stored somewhere on his computer... flash isn't steaming in any way that I know of.

Also, note what I said above... there will never be a way to disable screen capture functionality on macs. They'll get right around it.


In the end, you can make a mess and people will just go away 'cause it's so hard to access the "preview"
or you can let people save
or you can put some security to limit saving
or you can not supply them with the image in the first place:
1. Don't show them anything. That WILL keep it safe. If you show them, they can save it. Really.
2. Show them a small preview... who cares about a thumbnail size image.
3. Put a big ugly watermark on it. They can still see the image, but it's ugly for use without them buying the real one.
4. This IS WHY WE HAVE COPYRIGHT! just.... go with it. If they use it illegally, sue them... there are laws for this reason.


Again, go ahead and link and we can find numerous ways around saving the image. I'm curious to try if you've got a link.

[mwinter]

There is NO way, no matter what you do, do stop people from saving your images.

Then why are you entertaining this madness?

Now, on a purely theoretical quest, sure... there are some ways to do some of what you're saying.

Oh, sure, if you want to reject a substantial number of potential visitors, and piss off the remaining ones.

The other thing to do isn't to force javascript, but to not let them in if they don't have JS.

Oh, for goodness sake! What on Earth possessed you to suggest something as stupid as that?

Just run a check to see if they have js running/working. That's how the content should be shown. If JS isn't running, they will get a blank, and maybe a "you need js" error message.

So then the user will give you the finger and go elsewhere. Good plan! Search engines may also think the site a waste of effort and not both to index it.

Mike

[The Roman]

All right djr33 I think you let me make a jump...because now the checks are:

- user is not using I.E.? --> do not display image
- user is not using Java Script? --> do not display image

by the way I have always known that swf file can be decompiled, but I repeat that in this case the user can only display the swf file, not save either the browser can't cache somewhere on user's computer (remember?...disable the cache directly from IIS). About Mac... I could check no print-screen Java Script function (that it is write only for windows system), if it fails do not display image. So now I have another limitation... and to me it is still fine:

The Image Copyright Solution can works 100% only under I.E. browser+Windows Operating System (doesn't mean that it can be tricked with different Browser or O.S.)

P.S.: for now I can't punt the link to the application

Thanks man