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://javascript.internet.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.

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.