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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Software => Software - General => Topic started by: Bateleur on May 13, 2007, 10:23
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Does anyone know of a way to copy-protect image CDs?
I've just come back from photographing a Swiss wrestling (Lutte) festival. I went privately, but when one of the organisers saw me at work he asked if I sold my photos. I said 'yes' and became the sort of official photographer on the spot. ;D
He wants me to send them a CD of the images. I know you can watermark photos, but I'd like to protect my investment of time, knowledge and equipment, not to mention copyright, by making the whole CD copy-protected. This means that I can sell the CDs to individuals, secure (I hope) in the knowledge that they can't be copied and distributed within the wrestling club.
Can this be done? All advice gratefully received.
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It might be easier for you to put only low-res images on the CD, then charge them for prints or higher resolution images. An alternative might be to put low-res versions on the web. If you don't have your own website, Flickr would be a good (i.e. free) candidate for this.
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There is no fool-proof way to protect CDs or DVDs. All you have to do is look at the movie and music industry to understand that. They are multi-billion dollar industries and they can't even stop thieves from stealing their property.
Take the extra time to put the watermarks on the images. It is the only way to really protect yourself.
Or as sharply_done suggest, provide a very low resolution image. I would suggest around 200-300 pixels at the widest (since that is what most sites use for their thumbnails).
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There are way in which CD can be copy-protected that work. The software is expensive and even if you copy protect the CD, that won't really stop people from getting the photo. Anything that is viewable on a screen can be captured, thereby circumventing the CD copy protect. I would just watermark the photos or give small versions.
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Put them on the web. that way they can distribute the link easily and buy the ones they want?
Does Flickr have a payment option yet? I know Zooomr is still alpha testing there version. or smartmug? Alternatively Featurepics may accept them as editorial and have them up there for a while?