Ebook publishing faces the same issues as music and other types of downloadable products sold on the internet. How can ebooks be protected against piracy and theft?
Will Ebook theft cause people to stop writing?
Several months ago in an article that appeared on the internet, the Society of Authors, UK association, posed this question. As a writer myself, I found it amusing. Nothing, absolutely nothing, would keep me from continuing to write more books, articles and poetry… but I would surely do everything I could to protect them!
The intricacies of copyright
Copyright has always been a volatile matter. By merely placing your name as the byline after the title of an article or book you’ve written, you’re claiming ownership. How easy is it to remove that name and replace it with another?
The simplest old-fashioned way to prove copyright of a document is to write a letter containing ownership information and post it. The letter would read:
Address it to yourself and when it arrives in your mailbox with a postal registration stamp as proof that it was sent through the U.S. Postal Service, attach the envelope to the document and file it in your security box where you keep other legal documents.
PDF file theft
Ebook theft can occur from simple pdf file copying after the file has been downloaded to a hard drive.
Although the file may be a “read-only” or protected by a password with only one download permissible, once it is archived on another person's hard drive, it’s easy to copy it and remove the author’s name.
Ebook anti-theft software - you won't go anywhere without it!
Ebook anti-theft software is a must for anyone who is serious about writing, marketing and selling ebooks.
Digital text piracy has new meaning for those who’ve had it happen, and when it comes to ebook theft of books that are also available in hard copy printed editions, duplication is a tempting user friendly process that has caused many publishers to lose control over their products.
“Look inside” programs and downloadable free excerpts are great ways to promote a book as long as the rest of the product cannot be obtained by reconfiguring the hyperlinks.
Thanks to a group of savvy IT techs, outstanding new software is now available that not only protects your pdf ebook files from website thieves and mavens, but also places them with an ID number in a data base specifically for keeping electronic files under lock and key.
If you’re planning to sell your ebooks from your own website, I strongly advise that you invest in reliable ebook anti-theft software. After doing my own research and speaking with several knowledgeable internet marketers about ebook anti-theft software, I chose Product Padlock.
Check with the experts
It doesn’t take long—only a couple errors and hopefully not the loss of a lot of time and money—to realize that veteran internet marketers who’ve risen to the top of the heap got there not because they learned how to cheat and con others, but because they have products that work.
I’m extremely pleased to recommend Product Padlock because it has been developed by expert IT marketers who recognized the piracy problem and decided to pre-empt it.
Other ways to protect your ebooks from theft
Make sure your ebooks have ISBN numbers. Register them with R. R. Bowker.
Also, register your ebooks with the U.S. Library of Congress Office of Copyright Registration. You can now register your books online. This link lands you at the right spot for learning how to complete this process. Cost is only $35.00 versus $45.00 for paper and postal registration.
This registration fee is minimal compared to potential losses if someone else claims your work in their name. With this Copyright certificate in your possession, you can show proof of ownership.
Do these methods actually prevent piracy?
Of course not. If a person wants to plagiarize or steal intellectual property, they’ll find a way to do it; isn’t that true of just about anything in this world (except our natural talents!)? At least you can reassure yourself, however, that you’ve properly protected yourself with appropriate documentation. Then, if a situation should arise, you will be prepared to deliver these documents to a reputable entertainment attorney.
At Profit Avenue you will find additional information about ebook publishing protection with examples of legal disclaimers that successful ebook authors and entrepreneurs place at the beginning of their ebooks.
Carol Adler, MFA’s first ghost-written book listing her name as co-editor, Why Am I Still Addicted? A Holistic Approach to Recovery, was endorsed by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and published by McGraw-Hill. Other publications include three novels, four books of poetry, and well over 200 poems in literary journals. She has ghostwritten over 40 non-fiction and fiction works for a number of professionals in the education, health care and human potential industries.
Carol is President of Dandelion Books, LLC of Tempe, Arizona; a full service publishing company. She is also President and CEO of Dandelion Enterprises, Inc., Write to Publish for Profit and President of the International Arts & Media Foundation, a non-profit subsidiary of Dandelion Enterprises, Inc.
Her business experience includes co-ownership of a Palm Beach, FL public relations company and executive management positions in two U.S. rejuvenation and mind/body wellness corporations, for which she founded publishing divisions.
Carol has served as editor of several poetry and literary magazines. Her career experience includes extensive teaching of college-level creative and business writing, and conducting of writing workshops in prisons, libraries, elementary, junior and high schools, and senior citizen centers.
Additional Resources on Publishing can be found at:
Website Directory for Publishing
Articles on Publishing
Products for Publishing
Discussion Board
Carol Adler, The Official Guide to Publishing
Post new comment
Please Register or Login to post new comment.