securing digital ebooks from online piracy

[newb_bee]

Hi, I'd like to know the best method(s) of ... protecting the download
link ... it's location ...not having a new window pop up with the URL
in it...

I am aware there is no foolproof way (-:

What are my _best_ options for getting paid for my products before the
purchaser gets sent to the page? I am selling downloadable ebooks
(yes, our own, not somebody else's). I use PaySystems if that matters
so I have options there, but am most concerned with the file folder
full of product.

anything I'm missing?

thanks very much.
newb_bee

[lallous]

Re: securing digital ebooks from online piracy

Hello,

Afaik, you can use serverside scripting such as PHP, as:

<?
// do validation here
.....
// output the header here using Header()
.....

// output the ebook data here (and download will be started if you outputted
correct header previously)
readfile('ebook 1.pdf');
?>

Regards,
Elias

[newb_bee]

Re: securing digital ebooks from online piracy

"lallous" <lallous@lgwm.o rg> wrote in message news:<bgq57q$qh qr2$1@ID-161723.news.uni-berlin.de>...
you can use serverside scripting such as PHP, as:[color=blue]
>
> <?
> // do validation here
> ....
> // output the header here using Header()
> ....
>
> // output the ebook data here (and download will be started if you outputted
> correct header previously)
> readfile('ebook 1.pdf');
> ?>
>
> Regards,
> Elias[/color]



Elias,
thanks, looks good ... except I really AM a newbie, would you be
willing to flesh this out some for me? Or point me to where I can find
out how to put in all the variables?
Cheers,
Sandra

[matty]

Re: securing digital ebooks from online piracy

newb_bee wrote:

<snip>
[color=blue]
>
>
> Elias,
> thanks, looks good ... except I really AM a newbie, would you be
> willing to flesh this out some for me? Or point me to where I can find
> out how to put in all the variables?
> Cheers,
> Sandra[/color]

I don't mean to sound nasty, but since you're doing this as a part of a
business, do you expect people to write it for free for you?

[gregm@cs.uwa.edu.au]

Re: securing digital ebooks from online piracy

In comp.lang.misc newb_bee <sandra@delfin. org> wrote:
: <I am selling downloadable ebooks>
: What are my _best_ options for getting paid for my products before the
: purchaser gets sent to the page?

Don't write it until they've paid you.

-Greg

[Mark Hewitt]

Re: securing digital ebooks from online piracy


"lallous" <lallous@lgwm.o rg> wrote in message
news:bgq57q$qhq r2$1@ID-161723.news.uni-berlin.de...[color=blue]
> Hello,
>
> Afaik, you can use serverside scripting such as PHP, as:
>
> <?
> // do validation here
> ....
> // output the header here using Header()
> ....
>[/color]

Use the correct content-type here in the header, or the browser will get
confused.
Look at "mime_content_t ype" for detecting mime types on random files, or if
you have a set file format you know in advance...

Quoting PHP 4.3.0 manual: ( HTTP Functions / header ):

<?php
// We'll be outputting a PDF
header("Content-type: application/pdf");

// It will be called downloaded.pdf
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=downlo aded.pdf");

// The PDF source is in original.pdf
readfile('origi nal.pdf');
?>

for example for pdf (as in example below)

Remember, readfile() reads a file and prints to the output buffer (i.e. your
browser)

[color=blue]
> // output the ebook data here (and download will be started if you[/color]
outputted[color=blue]
> correct header previously)
> readfile('ebook 1.pdf');[/color]

If possible, try to store the pdf outside your servers document root, this
will prevent people trying to guess the url and dl directly

Thanks,
Mark
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows, Linux and Internet Development Consultant
Email: corporate@scrip tsmiths.com
Web: http://www.scriptsmiths.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[color=blue]
> ?>
>
> Regards,
> Elias
>
>[/color]