Copy protect your code without annoying your users

Content theft is a perenial problem especially on the internet. On the internet the problem has been sutomted and exacerbated wuth te use of scripts and programs able to scape content from websites.

Numerous methods have been employed across the web to prevet copying of content though they are often annoying andintrusive for legitimate users.

When uploading an essay I wrote recently I discovered a surprisingly simple method of copy protection using CSS. Basically you insert a span enclosed line of text asserting your copyright and ten hide this using CSS. My first attempt wasto use display: none though I discovered that Safari didn’t copy the copyright text as rather than hiding the text it simply removes it from the rendered DOM. This method is a lightweight way to copy protect your content and works best against automated bots though it has few negative sides for end users.

Pros of this method

• It doesn’t disable any end-user functionality, users can right click, copy and select your text without hinderance
• It has no negative effect on seach engine optimisation
• Your content is still accessible to screenreaders
• It works without javascript and if CSS is turned off you still get the same effect though the copyright text will become visible
• It doesn’t prevent fair usage copying of your content as anyone using small snippets of your text will see the copyright text and can easily remove it.

Cons of this method

• It is easy for someone manually stealing your conten to go through and remove your copright messages
• Users may see the copyright text if CSS disabled

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A free degree

The government is considering a plan for fee free degrees. Some are concerned that this will lead to poorer students being stuck in their local area due to cost. This is to some extent true but at least it gives potential students another option to overwhelming debt or facing a tough job market with only a few qualifications.

I doubt that such a scheme will help poorer students anyway as they are the ones who have their fees waived anyway. It is more likely to be children of middle-income families who will make the most of this option. Something I think the government should also consider is promoting part-time degrees to young people, enabling them to work their way through a degree. I did this myself but was only able to do this once in my twenties. Doing a part-time degree alongside a full-time job is difficult but for dedicated students without the additional commitments of families and mortgages, it is perfectly possible. Part-time studying can enable young people to gain a degree without the huge debt of full-time study and the government is still able to claim its fee-income.

The UK has to compete on a global level and countries such as India and China are catching up to us in terms of education very quickly. Whilst I am sceptical about the ability of universities to prepare young people for work, it is still seen by many employers as an essential part of a potential employees education. It seems logical therefore that we make higher education available to as many people as we possibly can.

30 Grunge backgrounds for websites 30-02-09

i have been amassing a collection of stock graphics on Big Stock Photo. 142 to be precise Random stock graphics

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