| SPRING 2008 |
|
 |
A Virgin's Guide to Digital Rights Management  If Digital Rights Management (DRM) isn't a term that gets your creative juices flowing, then think of it this way... Does your work getting ripped off make your blood boil? Then say hello to the world of DRM.
The internet offers an efficient and cost effective way to promote your work to audiences all over the world, but its also the most likely way for you to get ripped off. Whilst the simplest way to alleviate this threat is to not show your work online at all, its hardly the most practical considering its many benefits. If you are a DACS member we will make sure your work is legally licenced, fairly paid for and its integrity respected. But it is also useful to know about a few simple ways to stop people ripping off your work. Here's where DRMs come in. Currently under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act copyright owners have the ability to prevent the removal of Rights Management Information and the further circulation of copies from which such information has been removed. One way to protect your work from digital theft is to disable the right click option on your mouse so that it prevents illegal copying of your work. Another method is to add a transparent layer on top of your image using photo editing software. However both methods can be time consuming to create and for the experienced online digital thief can be easily overcome. Using a copyright watermark is one of the best methods. Although it does not prevent users from downloading your image, it does make further unauthorized usage of the work undesirable by placing an image such as a copyright symbol over your work. There are plenty of photo editing programs on the market which will allow you to do this. Want to know more? Download Ownit's free podcast 'Your Work On The Web and How To Protect It' at www.own-it.org  back
|
