In our previous articles we already have seen the following:

a) Comparing eTextbooks with Print Textbooks:

https://www.mpowero.com/blogs/comparing-etextbooks-with-print-textbooks/

Creating eTextbooks requires great efforts, resources and hardwork.

b) An Ideal Approach for developing eTextbooks:

https://www.mpowero.com/blogs/developing-etextbooks-an-ideal-approach/

The digital availability and thus the easy accessibility of the eTextbooks over the internet, make these prone to illegal copying, piracy and distribution. For the Publishers, it’s imperative to take precautionary steps to protect content from theft and ensure there are copyrights in place for additional safety measures. Let us now consider a few ways to ensure security of eTextbooks:

a) Convert eTextbook to PDF:

This is one of the simplest yet efficient ways to secure eTextbooks. PDF formats are:

• secure and allow data encryption so as to transfer data over the internet
• Free from viruses
• Free from malware attacks
• Allows users to personalize their specific preferences
• Allows to customize
• Prevent from editing (with certain online tools)

b) Watermark:

Digital Watermarking  makes it difficult to take credit for your content by anyone else as your name will be marked across the document, though this is not the foolproof way to digital content.

Watermarking includes a semi-transparent line of text, a symbol or a logo in the content to ensure that it cannot be further used simply without an authorization.

Watermarks cannot be altered or removed and hence it’s a great tool on protecting copyright infringement.

c) Multiple Versions of eTextbooks:

While Security Access Profiles to restrict user actions is a way to protect eTexbooks, creating multiple versions helps:

• prevent screen capture
• protect content leaks
• disable print screen
• lock pages
• give limited period validity

d) Register Your eTextbook with DMCA:

Registering helps with:

• create a public record of the copyright
• allows to take a legal action in case of copyright infringement
• prevent illegal actions

Digital Millennium Copyright Act Protects in case of content theft requires hosting providers to immediately remove content that’s copied based on the intellectual property rights.

e) Digital Rights Management (DRM):

DRM ensures authorized access to its users (Teachers, Students) via a licence with restrictions on the content via usage on the specific device, time, control on related aspects. This helps protect the eTextbooks from misuse, theft, piracy and data leak.

DRM Software also assists in:

• having control in ebook distribution
• restricts the copy-paste options
• incorporate and provide limited sharing options

f) User Access and Authentication:

Making it mandatory to provide valid credentials to be able to access the content via a

• Username
• Password
• Access Code
• Security Questions

ensures the highest level of security

g) Monitoring Digital Content:

Multiple reverse searching tools are a big aid. Monitoring mentions and Google alerts are a few more.

Conclusion:

Due to online content theft and piracy issues, Publishers are facing issues of monetization and revenue losses and hence securing eTextbooks is crucial for the publishers, to overcome this situation. A few techniques mentioned above might be of assistance to approach content security in a layered manner.

Copyrights for Publishers have always been a method for securing digital content with Publishers so as to make infringement as difficult as possible.

Talk to the team of mPowerO experts to leverage on the prospects for Publishers, as Product Offering.

Write to us at info@mpowero.com to get your queries duly answered and enable/switch to the revenue generation model of the Publishers’ Segment.

Happy to Help!