Would you pay for this service?

[Canuckkev]

A small bit of code to add to your page (like a counter service), and if someone copies your site, without removing the code, will email you the address of the copy. I could offer it for free (as the actual coding took <5 minutes), but I'm looking to make some income...so, how much would you pay for this?

I think nothing less than $5, because then it's almost not worth it, but I don't think many would be willing to pay $10.

 

[Kaliber]

Thats a good idea! you will have to make sure they don't remove the code though.

 

[Daniel]

Originally posted by Kaliber
Thats a good idea! you will have to make sure they don't remove the code though.

You can try and embed it in a picture(the .jpg) similar to how that guy manage to sneak a virus in the .jpg file.

 

[Canuckkev]

No, that won't work. I think the JPG's were only affected once an executeable on that system was run.

I already have the coding worked out...but you are right, there is no way to stop them from removing it. But, I don't know how lame some copiers are. Lots might just skip over it...who knows.

Anyways, you still didn't say if you would think people would pay for such a service...?

 

[thirdstarr]

what if you make it in a way,like
the freehosts,angelfire,geocities,
the ad banners i mean,they all have code for it.
so even if ppl delete,it'll still come back up.
that way the code will always stay,
so i guess u can call that embeded.

 

[Canuckkev]

The way those work is the server automatically adds the ad code.

But I have it coded and working already. I will use javascript, and if the site is a copy, it will load a 1X1 invisible gif that executes a php script to email the person.

 

[Avenger]

My answer is no. I won't pay for it. Not that its bad, but I won't need it.
My site is mostly text based. So they don't copy the html just the text. This is driving me nuts, any solution for that, I can pay for. And ý believe most webmasters will need just that.

 

[Canuckkev]

Thanks for the suggestion. I do think it would be possible to devise a system that would catch that (by searching google for a specific phrase on your site), but that would be hella resource intensive. I'll keep it in mind though.

 

[zoobie]

$1 because it won't work with search engines. They scan the page and once they see any questionable size file, ban you. You have to add this stipulation and indemnify yourself from any loss of rankings. :classic2:

 

[Canuckkev]

Umm...well, good to know, but I don't think JavaScript will contribute make the page of "questionable size".

 

[the elf]

To be honest, I don’t think I pay for such a service. I always try to “mark” sites in a way where “scammers” would have a few long nights of creative work if they really wanted the design i.e. putting text over a image so they can’t “cut” it out etc without losing hair.

Second, because it’s javascript, it would really stand out to the scammer if they looked at the source. It’d stand out more then a small <img> tag i.e. <img src=http://blah.com/corner.gif?code=blahblah> & tell the web server to process corner.gif as a PHP script so it looks more real then stick it somewhere in the middle of the page i.e. right after a <td>. Have the script check a database for the referral and if it’s not on record, email the owner with the address of the copied site and for the “premium” users, a copy of the whois for the domain and the IP. </me gets an idea for a new service>

Third, because more people today (or at least I do anyway) use template based designs (or chopped sites i.e. header – content – footer via SSI/PHP includes or mod_layout). If someone did steal my site, I’d just create another design and “apply” it within seconds across the whole site. It’d be more work for the scammer then for me to design and apply a new (or old even) design.

Personally, I think the <img> code is waaaay better then your javascript method (as above) because most scammers would review the HTML code (maybe to change file addresses etc) and see your code then go “Ooooh, <snip>”. Since it’ll use more resources then your planned javascript version (if I understand the application process correctly), I’d charge them in CPM for the service rather then per month/site.

 

[Canuckkev]

Smart thinking elf...that was my original idea as well (pretty much exactly as you described it). But try it. Then save the site in IE (not browsing source code) By going to File - Save As. What happens to the image? The gif the php script points to gets downloaded. So...I had to use JavaScript.

As for the application to the site process, I am still unsure how to implement it. Orignally I wanted complete control over the code, so they would include a .js from my server, but I realize now that's not so smart. So, I think they will have the Java Script, but as for the PHP, it will hardly use any resources, cause, what are the chances the system actually does catch someone and has to email the site owner. But still, I don't want to make it a "lifetime" service, so I may force them to put the php script on their host, or charge a small amount yearly.

And to get people to not cut the code when they come across, I don't know. I thought about putting comments around it like "Search Engine Ranking Improvement code. Just copy and paste from http://address.com and place on your site to automatically boost your websites ranking" Then actually setting up the fake http://address.com site.

But oh well, maybe this idea is hardly worth it. I haven't spent any money on it yet, just a couple hours of time (5 mins making the service, hours trying to make a design that looked somewhat useable).

 

[the elf]

Originally posted by Canuckkev
Smart thinking elf...that was my original idea as well (pretty much exactly as you described it). But try it. Then save the site in IE (not browsing source code) By going to File - Save As. What happens to the image? The gif the php script points to gets downloaded. So...I had to use JavaScript.

Hmmmm... That's the problem with HTML. You can't really hide anything.