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Publishing: A PDF-based model of income generation

B

Blue Velvet

Moderator emeritus
Original poster
Jul 4, 2004
21,929
265
So I've been tasked to start doing some research on how we can publish a scholarly research-based quarterly, and instead of releasing it in print for sale, creating or adopting a model for PDF distribution for up to 3000 people that can generate income.

I'm aware that PDFs have a number of security features that can be enabled but I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience of producing this type of product or receiving PDFs that you've paid for? Distribution, cost scales and DRM are the probably the most immediate issues that come to mind.

Any insights, links, issues I'm unaware of... all appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
PDF DRM is a joke, IMO.

There are plenty of freeware apps out there, and some shareware, that can remove the passwords.

So, while the general public will be using Acrobat to read it, and thus be locked out from the file, people can still unlock and edit it.
 
When I download PDFs from the British Standard Website the PDFs come with a line of text that scrolls down the left edge of the page saying who downloaded and what time and date. Making the PDF traceable to the account that bought the PDF.
 
Sdashiki said:
PDF DRM is a joke, IMO.

There are plenty of freeware apps out there, and some shareware, that can remove the passwords.

So, while the general public will be using Acrobat to read it, and thus be locked out from the file, people can still unlock and edit it.
Click to expand...


I know that all that; it's something I occasionally have to do myself. I've been asked to research this as a model for online publishing for own organisation... and editing content is not so much the problem, preserving income and subscribers is.

xUKHCx said:
When I download PDFs from the British Standard Website the PDFs come with a line of text that scrolls down the left edge of the page saying who downloaded and what time and date. Making the PDF traceable to the account that bought the PDF.
Click to expand...


Very interesting, thanks. Is that www.bsi-global.com?
 
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