In recent years, publishers have explored ways to make valuable PDF content available on the Web, while protecting against piracy of the content. This is accomplished by use of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. DocuRights is a comprehensive DRM service, built around Adobe's PDF (Portable Document Format) technology, that provides protection against unauthorized use of electronic documents.
DocuRights allows a PDF file to be freely distributed in a physical manner - in fact, it's essentially impossible to prevent any type of file from being sent from one user to another, as the music industry has discovered. But DocuRights manages the manner in which a file is accessed on a recipient's computer. It is this management feature of DocuRights that encourages publishers to make their content available for distribution by independent sponsors, authors, or other third parties.
A DocuRights-enhanced PDF adds a security "wrapper" around the PDF content. This wrapper can be opened by a user who has a suitable authorization, which is delivered across the Web from the DocuRights server. DocuRights works with Adobe Acrobat through the use of an Acrobat "plug-in". Acrobat plug-ins extend the functional flexibility of Acrobat. The DocuRights plug-in is the means by which the publisher makes a specified number of distribution copies of the PDF available to you (the sponsor or author).
Please be sure to review the following topics. If you have any questions, please email support@docurights.com. Additional Help information is available here.
Q. Once I (as a sponsor or author) receive a DocuRights-enhanced PDF, how should I distribute the PDF to my clients or colleagues?
A. The PDF can be distributed in any manner that you want - common methods include downloading from a Web-site, as an e-mail attachment, or on a CD-ROM:
- For Email Distribution... Attach the file to an email message, and send the email to as many people as you wish. An electronic reprint "use" will only be counted when the document is actually opened by the recipient.
- For CD-ROM Distribution... Copy the file onto the CD-ROM, and send the disc to as many people as you wish. An electronic reprint "use" will only be counted when the document is actually opened.
- For Web Site Distribution... Host the PDF file on your Web server, and allow users to download it. An electronic reprint "use" will only be counted when the document is actually opened. Please follow the detailed instructions here.
Q. How do recipients of a DocuRights PDF get the DocuRights plug-in?
A. The DR plug-in is downloaded automatically to the user's computer, the first time that they open a DR-enhanced PDF on that computer. The installation takes just a few seconds, and usually requires no action by the user. On Windows computers, this installation requires administrator privileges (as is required with any software installation). Some users may need to have their IT staff enable administrator privileges for the few seconds that it takes to install the DR plug-in.
Q. Can a DocuRights-enhanced PDF be opened on any computer?
A. DR-enhanced PDFs can be opened on most desktop computers, including Windows (98 and later) and Macintosh (OS8.5 and later) systems. Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader 4.0 or later is required (Acrobat 5.x and 6.x are supported).
Q. Is Internet connectivity need in order to use DocuRights?
A. On the first viewing of a document, a user must be connected to the Internet to obtain a small file containing the DocuRights access permission, but subsequent viewings of the same document do not require an Internet connection.
Q. Can the user keep a copy of the DocuRights-enhanced PDF on their computer?
A. Yes. If the file is downloaded from your Web site, your instructions should guide the user to save the file to a known location, to avoid the file becoming hidden in a Web cache directory.
Q. How many print copies of the PDF can be made?
A. You and the publisher determine the number of times a user may print a copy of a PDF. Each time a copy of the PDF is downloaded to a particular computer, this specified number of print copies may be made from that computer. It's important to distinguish between the number of computers on which the PDF can be opened, versus the number of print-outs that can be made from each of these computers.
Q. How will I know when I'm going to run out of electronic distributions?
A. When your electronic reprint is delivered to you (by e-mail), the e-mail contains a Web link that will show the reprint usage statistics. If you do not have this link, please contact our reprint support staff at support@docurights.com.
Q. Why do we need to use the DocuRights technology at all? Can't we just use a "plain and simple" PDF?
A. Without DocuRights, the publisher would have no way to measure the usage of the document in the electronic environment. This would then discourage the publisher from making the PDF available electronically. DocuRights provides the solution that lets you (the sponsor or author) distribute the PDF electronically, while maintaining a fair business transaction between you and the publisher.
