Copyright protection... HOW???

[CrAviation]

Hi,

Tried posing this question on some encryption groups with little luck.

I have designed several slideshows as part of a course presentation
that I alone have offered.

Now that I am heading in a different direction, former collegues would
like to continue offering my course under my name and my guidance.

It's not that I don't trust my collegues, I just want a way to protect
my intellectual property.

After converting the PP to .exe, the protection for the files would
*ideally* be:

1. Each file protected by its own serial number, required upon
opening.
2. The serial for the user would have a 2-3 file-use lifespan
3. There would be seperate administrator and user serials - you never
know when access to the file more than 2-3 times may be necessary.

If I cannot control the usage of the files, I cannot control the
franchise.

I would appreciate any leads you can offer.

Cheers,
CR

 

[John Wilson]

Have you seen Shyam's addin?

http://skp.mvps.org/securepack/features.htm

 

[Brian Reilly, MVP]

CR,
As John says, Shyam Pillai's addin is probably the best option out
there. And he frequents this Newsgroup as another MVP so you will
never not get answers. I've tested it and was unsuccessful trying to
break the security.

Brian Reilly, MVP

 

[CrAviation]

Looks awesome - could be exactly what I need at first glance!

Thanks a million,

CR

 

[Mitch Gallant]

This is fairly easy to do.
Get a standard digital certificate from a certificate CA (Certificate
Authorithy) like Verisign.
Digitally sign your ppt presentation and TIME STAMP it ..
This is proven cryptographically strong protection, based on proven
algorithms. The cryptographically strong time-stamp ensures you have binding
proof, in an ongoing basis, that the owner fo that certificate (e.g. you)
had that content on a specific day. This is the only proper way
electronically to proove ownership of electronic documents bound to a
specific day.

Be very wary of any claims of products. Just because they haven't been
broken, does not mean that they are good protection.

- Mitch Gallant
MVP Security

 

[Mitch Gallant]

I don't quite understand, Mitch.

Sure, if I *catch* the perp red-handed with my work and can haul the
miscreant
into court, the digital sig would prove ownership, but what about the
thieves I
don't catch.

Certainly, add the signature as an added measure of backup, but some form
of
protection against freely copying and "overusing" the file is the first
line of
defense.

Copy protection is different than copyright protection. Anyone can of course
copy a digitally-signed document.
The intent I was referring to is proving ownership of intellectual property
on a specific date.
I understand what you mean. Office RMS also has this copy-protection.
- Mitch

 

[CrAviation]

I see now that I was perhaps unclear in my original post, stating
copyright protection but requesting copy protection...

I see what everyone is saying and I appreciate the dialog.

I have a copyright on every slide, and I can add a caveat at the
beginning or end of every show - but because there's very little
chance I will actually catch someone "red-handed" using the shows I was
actually talking about limited access. The collegue entrusted with
this has agreed to sign a non-disclosure, too.

Upon further consideration, I've realized that some of my original
requests were a bit too much... I'd just like the presentation to have
a "lifespan", you know?

If I approve a course to begin on May 29th, I don't want that slideshow
shown after May 31st. That's it! If I can control the number of days
the file is useful or ideally the number of times it can open, then all
I need to to above that is control the franchise's access to the server
to download fresh copies.

.... Or so I think.

Would converting the .ppt to a .exe make security any easier?

I'd be lying if I said I was an old hand at this - it's still a very,
VERY new idea to me.

Cheers,
Craig

 

[Talon]

Craig,
Look here http://skp.mvps.org/securepack/index.htm
Secure Pack will give you all you need to limit time, or openings, or
whatever.
I use it and wouldn't change. You can pack the entire presentation
into one file and protect it from there. You can password it to only
open for you or for whomever you give the password. You can password
the opening or password the ability to edit it.
It is just what you are asking for.

Talon99

 

[Mitch Gallant]

I see now that I was perhaps unclear in my original post, stating
copyright protection but requesting copy protection...


If I approve a course to begin on May 29th, I don't want that slideshow
shown after May 31st. That's it! If I can control the number of days
the file is useful or ideally the number of times it can open, then all
I need to to above that is control the franchise's access to the server
to download fresh copies.

Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) can do this nicely, and also impede
ability to print.
How many times in enterprises have I seen documents with text on the front
page warning:
"THIS DOCUMENT NOT TO BE PRINTED" ??
That is also the intent of RMS ..
OF course it is really only a light-deterent as all these types of solutions
are ...
trivial to do screen shots or get around screen-shot impedements and use
those ..
If you can SEE the information it can be copied and digested at will.

- Mitch

 

[Mitch Gallant]

WinZIp self-extractor can be used to encrypt any contents and be used to
very easily extracdt and open any type of document.
- Mitch

 

[Mitch Gallant]

There is a free (probably won't last forever) RMS server based on Passport
accounts that I have tried and it works very well.
There is also a plugin based on IE that allows anyone to read RMS protected
office documents (if they are a targeted recipient).
- Mtich

 

[Mitch Gallant]

"Information Rights Management in Microsoft Office 2003"
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/office/office2003/operate/of03irm.mspx

The IE addon for those who don't have Office 2003:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/downloads/addon/default.mspx

The initial generation of the machine and user cert used by RMS is pretty
transparent.
You need the RMS client (available freely here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...8C-881A-41DA-8455-042D7033372B&displaylang=en

Note that RMS is only supported on W2k and XP+ OSs

- Mitch