4 ms·

> ideally, I'd like to have individually watermarked PDFs for each backer to act as a social deterrent to uploading the file to download sites What if someone

> ideally, I'd like to have individually watermarked PDFs for each backer to act as a social deterrent to uploading the file to download sites What if someone provides fake information then uploads the book with your watermark?

a_t48 5y ago
The watermark gets the backer's name on it, now the author's name on it.
- gurchik 5y ago
  I know that. You've misread my question. The idea is that the backer won't upload the PDF on file sharing websites because the author will find it and trace it back to the backer using the watermark. But if the backer was anonymous by means of fake information provided to the author at the time of purchase then it's not deterring anything.
  - a_t48 5y ago
    Whoop, yeah, I did misread.
dhosek 5y ago
I'm not looking for perfect protection, just to keep honest people honest.
- gmiller123456 5y ago
  So, what happens when someone's watermarked copy starts showing up online? Will you be assuming the only way it got out was abuse by the intended customer and send in the lawyers? Did you notify your customers before they paid anything of this risk they're taking?
  - dhosek 5y ago
    Most likely I'd send a polite e-mail letting them know that I saw this and reminding them that they aren't supposed to share the file. The expense of a lawyer wouldn't be worthwhile. You seem to assume nefarious intent. My goal is simply to be able to let people buy a DRM-free copy of the PDF with a mild disincentive against sharing.
    - gmiller123456 5y ago
      Not necessarily "nefarious", but I certainly don't trust everyone to behave reasonably or logically. The very act of putting the watermark in will plant that idea in at least some of your customer's heads. And since you didn't answer my question about whether you informed customers of it before they made a purchase, I think it's safe to assume you didn't. Even if all of your customers trust you to act reasonably, you could die tomorrow and all of those rights will get transferred to someone else who may not be as trustworthy.

a_t48 5y ago

The watermark gets the backer's name on it, now the author's name on it.

gurchik 5y ago
I know that. You've misread my question. The idea is that the backer won't upload the PDF on file sharing websites because the author will find it and trace it back to the backer using the watermark. But if the backer was anonymous by means of fake information provided to the author at the time of purchase then it's not deterring anything.
- a_t48 5y ago
  Whoop, yeah, I did misread.

dhosek 5y ago

I'm not looking for perfect protection, just to keep honest people honest.

gmiller123456 5y ago
So, what happens when someone's watermarked copy starts showing up online? Will you be assuming the only way it got out was abuse by the intended customer and send in the lawyers? Did you notify your customers before they paid anything of this risk they're taking?
- dhosek 5y ago
  Most likely I'd send a polite e-mail letting them know that I saw this and reminding them that they aren't supposed to share the file. The expense of a lawyer wouldn't be worthwhile. You seem to assume nefarious intent. My goal is simply to be able to let people buy a DRM-free copy of the PDF with a mild disincentive against sharing.
  - gmiller123456 5y ago
    Not necessarily "nefarious", but I certainly don't trust everyone to behave reasonably or logically. The very act of putting the watermark in will plant that idea in at least some of your customer's heads. And since you didn't answer my question about whether you informed customers of it before they made a purchase, I think it's safe to assume you didn't. Even if all of your customers trust you to act reasonably, you could die tomorrow and all of those rights will get transferred to someone else who may not be as trustworthy.