Website Copy Protection

Hey people, thanks for the help in advance.I notice that my competition refuses to put the time into their websites that I do and have been stealing my pages. Copying my web text is one thing, but I notice often times my entire page is stolen, from what looks like a 'Save Page As' deal. What can I do to protect myself from this web theft, or at least to make it harder.I dont use any java, I use straight CSS on all my pages. Thanks.kvarnerexpress

If it's a business site, sort out the copyright of your site legally (ie more than just putting ? on your pages) and then if they continue to do it (because it's too late if they've already done it and you didn't have the necessary notices in place), stick your lawyers on them. A threatening letter usually will do the trick. Or maybe your local office of fair trading (if you have one where you are).

There are various things you can do to try and stop people stealing your code, but none of them are foolproof and in my opinion, you'll spend time & energy that could be better used elsewhere.

I totally agree. Copiers will always exist and there is no way to totally prevent against it. Like Tyssen said you can legally try to prevent it. The only other way i know of is to search google for code to prevent a right click and the view source option in IE. Those can be done easily but are not always very effective but atleast they are something

There are other ways of viewing the source in IE (and other browsers) than just right clicking. However, things like disabling right clicking will help prevent stealing it. Also, I do believe I saw somewhere (not so sure where it was) a way of encoding your web pages using JavaScript (beware that those without JavaScript probally will not be able to view it if you decide to use it). Even by protecting it with JavaScript, there are still other ways (I don't know of any, but there's always a way to get around things). I think I found that code on the JavaScript Source (but it is possible that I didn't), which is at: http://www.javascriptsource.com/

Hope I helped you some (sorry that I couldn't remember exactly where that was..)

Yes, but the right-click disabling is not only annoying but it can be easily avoided or bypassed. I just expect that those people who are stealing my code are learning from it, as I did in my ignorant youth, or are enjoying the fact that one day, I will find them and smite them. And they will never stray from their path of righteous web design again.

As Biscuitrat says, viewing the source code is one thing, and an excellent way to learn, but copying it to re-use is another matter all together. There are copyright issues invovled. Particularly if they are selling the code. By all means get a Lawyer involved, even if it just to send them notification that you are aware of their activities.On the other hand, I have been quite successful in approaching other authors to ask them to 'borrow' their code. I will not knowingly use another design without asking. Most authors will consent without much negotiation. There are lots of Open Source pages out there that are free, so why steal one?As people get more experienced with their coding skills, they will be less likely to "steal" yours. IMHO, let them view your source. If they learn something from it, that's a good thing.

What the others said already is definately true - you should, if it is a business or such related site, try to protect it legally.It is a serious offense to copy site stuff like that. I don't know the fines involved but i know that stolen site artwork and stuff can create a lawsuit / fine that can run for 10's of thousand of dollars that the ripper has to pay back to the original owner.There are entire sites devoted to preventing stuff like this - I would say that you should check em out and see either what they offer or what measures they reccomend. There is a site for pictures (ripperhunting.com) that makes it thier job to find people who do this kind of stuff.good luck

Yes, i agree with that, as you can't learn everything in books, you must search pages to find out how they did it. And about copying and pasting it just like that i believe that at least they should post a "thanks to" note or something, i mean there are projects that take more time to develop and a lot of time and money for someone just stealing it, but like they say, you are never going to completely avoid it.

If it's a business site, sort out the copyright of your site legally (ie more than just putting ? on your pages)

Actually under U.S. law a "?" has legal power, so stick one in there if you don't have one already (I think the preferred format is "? YEAR-YEAR AUTHOR"). If they continue just threaten to sue.

I made site for my students to use it thru exam process.Tests are in few groups, every test has 15-45 questions.First I used Javascript to have window over complete screen, without menus, toolbars, borders.I excluded right mouse key.Also, I disabled Ctrl and Alt keys.I disabled printing the webpage.I insert the code to recogniized if Internet Expolorer version 6 or above is installed, and what operating system is at the PC.Few other things also I disabled, but, unfortunately Windows XP SP2 came and it disables fullscreen Javascript capability for sites not recognized as trusted.Also, even I disabled Alt key, Alt+Tab still worked, and Ctrl-Alt-Delete still worked also. It seems to be two keyboard combinations are defined in Operating System lowlevel processes, and there is not an easy way to disable them.

There are other ways of viewing the source in IE (and other browsers) than just right clicking.  However, things like disabling right clicking will help prevent stealing it.  Also, I do believe I saw somewhere (not so sure where it was) a way of encoding your web pages using JavaScript (beware that those without JavaScript probally will not be able to view it if you decide to use it).  Even by protecting it with JavaScript, there are still other ways (I don't know of any, but there's always a way to get around things).  I think I found that code on the JavaScript Source (but it is possible that I didn't), which is at: http://www.javascriptsource.com/

 

Hope I helped you some (sorry that I couldn't remember exactly where that was..)

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i HATE the sites that dissable right click it does not help at all and it is extreamly annoying if i want to do some stuff with images...

 

 

There is a way, though, that you can protect your hard work from others tho, but, it will not involve html... if you make your site in flash, the only way people can get your coad is by using a flash decompiler, and to get the people who do, just have the flash load from an external flash file, that way nobody can steal your code... Too lazy to redo your enite site in flash? well, sorry, then you will have to deal with the theives....

Too lazy to redo your enite site in flash?  well,  sorry, then you will have to deal with the theives.

Too lazy? Too smart more like it. You know why you hardly see any all-Flash sites around? It's not cos of the work involved, it's cos users just don't like them that much and search engines certainly don't.

i HATE the sites that dissable right click it does not help at all and it is extreamly annoying if i want to do some stuff with images...

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Yeah i dislike them too, its really annoying. Like if you are showing off your page, it means you are showing off your info, it means you actually DO WANT people to know about it, so maybe they want to copy and paste the dates or times of the event or whatever, or maybe they want it printed, so you cannot censore all becouse of thieves... they will always find a way.

 

I know there are sometimes things you dont want to get too much attention though...

 

the only way people can get your coad is by using a flash decompiler, and to get the people who do, just have the flash load from an external flash file, that way nobody can steal your code...

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How is that? like a swf that calls from beneath it another swf file or variables or something? Im not sure if i understood correctly and id like to know...thanks!

Too lazy? Too smart more like it. You know why you hardly see any all-Flash sites around? It's not cos of the work involved, it's cos users just don't like them that much and search engines certainly don't.

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If you can format your flash so it is not the stadard size, make it look like its the entire html page, but dont make it too flashy, just make it normal looking. What your user can't know wont hurt them....

 

What I did on my site was make parts of it in flash. I made one swf file (this is where it gets cool), i made the text on it a variable, and i made the url it goes to another variable. Cheak it out here. Try changing the variables in the url. If you take them out, the text automatically says "ATP" hehe, then i can proove that i created it if anyone tryies to steal them.

 

And, if you want them to work in search engines, you re-wright the keywords (in whatever color the background is) after the flash file.

 

Wrighting the keywords is a good idea to have on any site, just write what your site is about, and hide it, who cares if someone comes along and highlights it and reads it...

I know there are sometimes things you dont want to get too much attention though...

How is that? like a swf that calls from beneath it another swf file or variables or something? Im not sure if i understood correctly and id like to know...thanks!

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Yes, when you directly link to a flash file via html, anyone can just view the sorce, and find out the url that flash file is in. They can then download it, or even get the original .fla by decompiling it.

 

To prevent this, you link hml to sorta the "empty shell" of the flash. You can have flash import functions from other swf files, and that does not show up in the decompiled fla, so they cant go hunting for that swf. You also should put all movie clips in separate swf's and then improt them.

 

All the code, and all the graphics should be in separate flash files, or just 1 file. Depending on what your style is.

 

I can't remember the coad right now on how to import external data like that, but i have a big book on flash, and ill look it up for you later.