Today content creators and online businesses are continuously facing new challenges, and one that we address here is the copy and theft of intellectual property.
Whether it is digital books, software, videos, or online blogs and articles, the ease of copying them and the many different means at one’s disposal to do so spells disaster for anyone that needs to recoup revenue to cover the cost of their production.
The solution to prevent such loss of revenue is copy protection.
For content creators, knowing that their work is copy protected can bring peace of mind, the services who provide copy protection are no longer a luxury but a necessity for online content creators like authors, online courses and corporate networks who need to maintain control over their digital assets to secure their income streams.
Growth of the Digital Economy
The tech world is bringing innovation every day. Some technologies on the internet have brought new opportunities and techniques for such businesses and content creators who are desperately tired of their content and intellectual property theft; that is copy protection.
Could you imagine that the same applies to the digital marketplaces – the rise of digital theft. According to a 2023 study by the Global Piracy Research Center, the global digital piracy market was valued at $51 billion. The value of this market is expected to project and grow by 10% annually over the next few years.
Moreover, more people are consuming digital content now than ever before. This digital content starts from streaming movies to downloading e-books, purchasing software, and attending virtual events. They all are facing intellectual property theft – the rising threat.
Piracy and Theft Consequences on Business Revenue
Digital piracy and data (content) theft can directly impact a company’s income streamlines. According to the International Intellectual Property Alliance, the U.S. economy loses over $30 billion annually due to digital piracy. And, this number continues to grow.
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), in particular, are vulnerable to these kinds of losses. The main reason for more vulnerability is because they don’t have much resources or infrastructure to implement or integrate robust copy protection measures.
When a digital asset gets pirated, such as an eBook, a software product, or a video tutorial, the original creator loses control over the content distribution and revenue. This reduces the ability and probability to monetize the content, whether through direct sales, subscriptions, or ad revenue.
Moreover, pirated or stolen content often finds its way to unauthorized websites or platforms that may not only damage a creator’s income potential (as discussed above) but also their reputation.
Importance of Copy Protection Tools
In this context, copy protection is no longer just an optional security measure—it is important for ensuring the credibility of the company’s virtual property.
Digital Rights Management (DRM) equipment, encryption, watermarking, and other protections can help prevent unauthorized duplication and distribution, thus enabling it to maintain its earning capacity.
1. Digital Rights Management (DRM):
DRM is widely used to limit and control access rights. DRM includes many different methods such as password protection, token files and network or device limitations to ensure that only users and devices with authorization can access the file and view its contents.
2. Watermarking and Fingerprinting:
Watermarking embeds unique, frequently invisible identifiers into digital media (whether pictures, movies, or documents) to indicate the original source. The watermarking of media can serve not only as a clear marker of ownership, but it can also indicate who copied it and when, providing evidence and identifying a thief.
3. Encryption:
Encryption provides the most important layer in any protection mechanism because it prevents access to a file’s content until all other control requirements have been met. Without access and controls, the file is just trash. It means that even if the file itself has been copied or shared, it will be unreadable and useless to anyone who doesn’t have the rights to view.
Legal Ramifications of Piracy
Apart from the loss of reputation and income streams, piracy can also result in expensive legal matters. Content creators and groups should be aware of their rights entitled by copyright regulations. While the scope of criminal activity has increased with the rise of online piracy, many agencies nonetheless underestimate the charges associated with imposing and enforcing their rights.
In 2023, the Copyright Alliance reported that legal proceedings taken against virtual piracy generated over $500 million in settlements and penalties in the U.S. alone. Although legal options exist, it often requires time, money and strength to pursue a case. Comparatively, using copy protection tools prevent digital assets and are also economical.
Copy Protection as a Competitive Advantage
While copy protection serves as a defensive measure, it can additionally be a valuable means for gaining an aggressive edge.
By securing digital assets with strong protection measures, organizations demonstrate that they prioritize privacy and security more effectively than their competitors.
In any industry where counterfeit products can harm both customers and the reputation of a business, maintaining strict security protocols is of prime importance.
