At 7/26/2007 08:40 PM, Chris Aitken wrote:
> > There's a couple of "protect your image" schemes that will frustrate > > the typical user, but they can be easily broken, like the one I > > created here: > > > > http://www.webbytedd.com/b/protect_image/ > > > > Firefox -> Tools -> Page Info -> Media -> Scroll Till Find -> Bingo! Say Firefox to a "typical user" and they will assume you are swearing at them in another language.
...
Typical users don't even KNOW they have a printscreen button.... just like most typical users don't know there is ANOTHER kind of browser :)
That said, I don't think the hypothetical typical clueless user is relevant here. A user who really wants to scrape images off websites will find a way with very little effort -- just google and a few clicks -- to view background images, to view page source, to disable javascript disabling of context menus, to install Firefox and the web developer toolbar, whatever; it's all within easy reach of anyone with motivation and average intelligence. Sure, you can make it difficult for X% of computer users to locate your images, but those aren't the people you're worried about, it's the Y% who don't take no for an answer and try, try again.
Trying to solve the problem of theft of intellectual property at the browser level always seems to end in failure. Just go back to the source and provide content that you don't mind people taking cuz you can't stop them if they really want to.
Had to smile yesterday, was walking past an espresso bar that doubles as an internet cafe. A customer had approached the counter and was asking the barrista how to access his email because he couldn't find Explorer, and she advised him to click on Foxfire. (Great movie, though.)
Regards, Paul __________________________ Paul Novitski Juniper Webcraft Ltd. http://juniperwebcraft.com
