How to protect a book from copying for free – instructions for writers
Reading time: 7 min.
Today, it is becoming even more difficult to protect the copyright of a book than before the digital age. Printing is experiencing a complex crisis: paper is becoming more expensive, editorial teams are losing staff, publishing houses are getting fewer opportunities, and stores are closing. The main problem is that pirates can copy a manuscript, text material for free distribution or even completely appropriate the copyright. It is important to study modern opportunities, how to protect PDF without using a certificate and study various complex principles of special systems.
Practical instructions for authors contain several effective methods for protecting documents at the stages of creation, reading and sending. We will consider 3 practical approaches: functions of text editors, special marks and features of secure file transfer. This will help to save your work in the fight against pirates, will provide sufficiently reliable copyright protection without additional costs.
Editor functions for PDF protection
Common programs (LibreOffice or Microsoft Word) have free tools in their arsenal to solve the problem of how to protect a PDF file from editing, uncontrolled copying. These methods limit the functions of printing, changing, copying content without special skills. You can enter protection into the editor system as follows:
Password in LibreOffice. How to protect PDF from copying without a password – many authors are interested in, but creating a code remains a more reliable method. First, install LibreOffice. Open the material in LibreOffice Writer. Click “File” → “Export to PDF” → “Security”. Enter a password for the PDF file to open, the second – for restrictions. Opposite the items “Print”, “Changes”, “Copy content” select “Not allowed” and uncheck “Special features for text”. This creates PDF protection from copying text. Do not forget to save the file before sending. The system will help block attempts to copy text without a password, and it protects the material well from unauthorized editing in other programs.
Using metadata. In the “Document Properties” menu, enter the data: name, creation date, contacts (“File” → “Properties” in LibreOffice). This will confirm copyright when opening the file. In the future, such a moment can serve as an argument in disputes when the author wanted to protect the PDF document from being copied by third parties. Metadata will be visible in the PDF properties, which will help protect the document from being appropriated by pirates.
Restrictions in the Word editor. Select “File” → “Info” → “Protect Document” → “Encrypt with Password”. Enter the password to open. To improve protection, you can also select “Restrict Editing” to protect the PDF from unwanted changes. Export the material to PDF. The method works well enough when you need to protect the text from unauthorized changes and copying.
These methods make attempts to bypass password protection more difficult and time-consuming. Experts recommend changing the password on the PDF every month and never sending it along with the file. Use different codes for editing and opening. This way, pirates have fewer chances to copy the text or change the document.
How to protect PDF from copying using labels
The ability to set unique author’s labels helps solve a number of problems. Protecting PDF from copying text should be accompanied by leak tracking using a paid or free service. They can make the book recognizable and can confirm copyright.
What it looks like:
Watermarks. Use PDFescape or Sejda to create and add a watermark. For example, “copy for reader [Name]” or creation date. After that, you need to upload the file, select “Watermark” (for example, a signature) and enter the inscription. This will not protect the created PDF from recognition, but will help solve the problem of illegal copying of material by pirates. Watermarks will link the document to the author, significantly complicating distribution.
Hidden markers. Enter invisible Unicode characters or rare words in LibreOffice (a unique phrase in each section) into the text. If the text appears on pirate resources, the markers will be able to prove authorship.
Unique fonts. Calligraphr helps to create an original text where the letters are changed. It does not interfere with reading, but complicates the process of recognition by special programs. A convenient and fairly simple way to protect PDF from copying without a password. In addition, a unique font is a good way to make a document original and recognizable.
Tags allow you to identify the source of the leak and protect the book from pirates. Change the tags periodically for greater security.
Security during file transfer
At the stage of sending a manuscript, it is most vulnerable. It is very easy to copy a file, which is often used by pirates. There are a number of free official methods that will help increase access control and reduce the risks of distribution. Studying the principles of protecting data transfer today is an important point for preserving copyright for any object. The main tools include:
encryption of archives by setting a password (it should be transferred separately, via a messenger directly to the recipient);
cloud access (uploading files to Google Drive with a read-only setting and selecting access rights for specific users);
disabling the ability to download material (for outdated contacts, it is important to periodically revoke access);
automatic password creation (change the password every month, updating the file on the server, but notifying readers via mailing list).
Today, there are several simple but effective ways to protect PDF documents from recognition by special programs, copying, and other actions by intruders who violate copyright. This can be done without setting a password, but the introduction of markers and a special password code protect text material better.
