I have been working with a web designer to develop a content management system based on the management of PDF files. As a lot of illustrations will be used and content developed, I only wish the users to be able to print the PDFs that will be managed. I have looked through the forums and wonder if there is any updated information. Any help would be appreciated as we are struggling to find a solution. I suppose I am looking for a solution to using acrobat where a DRM solution would stop screen printing, saving to the local disk to allow only the unrestricted printing of a PDF. It would be great if the package could be put on the server LInux....
I would like to thank in advance anyone that can help me as I am at a loss at the moment as to solving this issue.
Document Rights Management
2011-12-12 02:15:06
My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro, Macintosh
Acrobat Pro, Macintosh
2011-12-12 11:06:41
#2
Au contraire, we're happy to talk about DRM on this forum.
Adobe's DRM system for PDF files is LiveCycle Rights Management Server, now under the ADEP (Adobe Digital Enterprise Platform) brand group. It is available as a hosted and deployed package, but it is certainly not a cheap option. Prices are not directly quotable as they vary based on which ADEP modules you use and how many documents you process, but think five figures in USD. There are some companies who "rent" access to a hosted LCDRM server for a monthly or per-document fee if you only have a few files to protect, but by the sound of it you're looking for bulk processing; and that means a direct ADEP subscription with Adobe.
However, the combination of things you're asking for do not make sense. DRM cannot prevent screen-grabs, and if a document is printable, any visual protection is pointless as they can print and re-scan the page (virtually or on paper). Also it is impossible to prevent a PDF file from being saved to disk and shared - not only does PDF not "stream" like a video, but DRM controls who can *open* the file - the file itself is beyond the control of any application. If you send someone a DRM-protected file they can email it to all their friends or post it online, but without the access credentials for the DRM server, nobody else could open the file.
LCDRM provides basic tools to control who can do what, similar to the password permissions set by Acrobat, and will audit those permissions. You can for example prevent printing, copying or commenting; but you cannot control the total number of printouts. LCDRM allows a document author to revoke access to a file at any time, and to set grace periods for the file to "phone home" to the server, but it cannot remotely-alter anything in the file itself.
Adobe's DRM system for PDF files is LiveCycle Rights Management Server, now under the ADEP (Adobe Digital Enterprise Platform) brand group. It is available as a hosted and deployed package, but it is certainly not a cheap option. Prices are not directly quotable as they vary based on which ADEP modules you use and how many documents you process, but think five figures in USD. There are some companies who "rent" access to a hosted LCDRM server for a monthly or per-document fee if you only have a few files to protect, but by the sound of it you're looking for bulk processing; and that means a direct ADEP subscription with Adobe.
However, the combination of things you're asking for do not make sense. DRM cannot prevent screen-grabs, and if a document is printable, any visual protection is pointless as they can print and re-scan the page (virtually or on paper). Also it is impossible to prevent a PDF file from being saved to disk and shared - not only does PDF not "stream" like a video, but DRM controls who can *open* the file - the file itself is beyond the control of any application. If you send someone a DRM-protected file they can email it to all their friends or post it online, but without the access credentials for the DRM server, nobody else could open the file.
LCDRM provides basic tools to control who can do what, similar to the password permissions set by Acrobat, and will audit those permissions. You can for example prevent printing, copying or commenting; but you cannot control the total number of printouts. LCDRM allows a document author to revoke access to a file at any time, and to set grace periods for the file to "phone home" to the server, but it cannot remotely-alter anything in the file itself.
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