Just a thought ... password encrypted file with download of images.

Zip it and encrypt it.

Encryption code ... ok, this part needs to be fleshed out somewhat ... available after an electronic signature has been attached and that the person has read the copyright protection clause.

Why?

1) Caedes becomes known as a more secure site for artists to display their art.

And it need not be every time. Once, for say members ... and once, for returning visitors who have set up a profile.

2) Increase membership? Possibly? Through encouragement to setup a profile and get more involved in the community.

Ok, bring on the dissenting opinions. :oP

(Bear in mind, and I could be incorrect on this ... it appears that in most cases of rips, the ripper did, in fact, setup an account.)

Interesting idea. But there is still the issue of rippers will be able to still to do screen captures.

While out walking one day a man grabbed my arm and told me that certain websites encode a serial number into each downloaded image that corresponds to the member that DL'd it .. this enables them the ability to track an image found on "usenet", (for example) and KNOW which member re-distributed it

This AND the ability to BAN an IP could remove the rippers from accessing the site

OK .. I've done my part by telling you all this .. you go take care of the details

(*sips sodie-pop*)

Screen captures?

Possible I guess, but unless there is some way to do a batching process ... seems awfully time intensive, no?

And by no means is this the panacea to the problems of rips ... just a start and hopefully something to further some protection for Caedes members.

Keith? Enjoy that sodie-pop ... and the next one is on me ... great suggestion and alternative ... or both?

Yeah man, let's lock this place down like Fort Knox. :oD

I personally think keiths would work better. I don't see how encryption would really help other than to make it harder to get files downloaded. Once they have downloaded it they can still post it again like they can now. Perhaps im missing something?

Keith's doesn't stop them, but it gives us a way to bite back at them and prevent it from happening again.

I like the fort knox idea...

.....20 digit password required, not even caedes knows it.

Could you explain the encryption idea some more?

I don't honestly see how it would work. Viewing an image full size _is_ downloading it, so in order to work, that download would have to be zipped. But it would not then be viewable in the browser in the way it is now. There's no way to allow the image to be viewed full size without encryption but to insist on encryption before it is saved.

Try this:
1) view an image full size in browser
2) take computer off line
3) save image to disk by right-clicking or ctrl-clicking.

So the only way to implement it would be to prevent 1.

I'm sure I'm missing something here, but can't quite see what right now.

If the site takes up keifer's suggestion, I'm off.

In any case, anybody can set up a bunch of accounts with false information and banning ip addresses is likely to be rather similar to taking a sledge hammer to a nut which turns out to be made of rubber anyway. When Wikipedia banned the ip address responsible for repeatedly vandalising political entries, they banned everyone in all the Congressional offices from performing edits because they all have the same ip address. They are hardly the only ones behind a firewall. (Never mind DHCP and all the rest of it.)

This is not to say this might not be effective - it might be somewhat effective. But it won't be completely effective against those it needs to be and it is likely to be highly effective against some of those it needs not to be.

I think noahnott's point is an excellent one (assuming it is a point and not a suggestion).

- cfr

I am well aware of the foibles of banning an IP ...