Here is a script you can use to help protect your images from being stollen. There are ways around it but it will at least keep some people honest and slow down the rest.

Just copy this script into the Header of your homepage.

<script LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.1">
<!-- Original: Martin Webb (martin@irt.org) -->

<!-- This script and many more are available free online at -->
<!-- The JavaScript Source!! http://javascript.internet.com -->

<!-- Begin
function right(e) {
if (navigator.appName == 'Netscape' &&
(e.which == 3 || e.which == 2))
return false;
else if (navigator.appName == 'Microsoft Internet Explorer' &&
(event.button == 2 || event.button == 3)) {
alert("All images are protected by copyright. We will sue for copyright infringements!");
return false;
}
return true;
}

document.onmousedown=right;
document.onmouseup=right;
if (document.layers) window.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEDOWN);
if (document.layers) window.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEUP);
window.onmousedown=right;
window.onmouseup=right;
// End -->
</script>

Thanks!

Yes Thanks,

Sometimes it is real nice when its handed to you on a platter. Taking the time out too look for things butts into your daily routine!

Sweeeeet, Thanks so much for runnin' this down.

Thanks alot for this one birdman!

Birdman,
As much as I like what this code does, my experience with this and similar code for image protection has been a little different.
Yes the code stops people from downloading the images, however, this really does not stop anyone determined to make copies of your images. All they have to do is go to the cached images under the Temporary Internet Files folder and copy them from there.
I also found this type of protection myself a little annoying for the webmaster (that's also myself ). I happen to transfer images from here to there using the real time web pages a lot, and this becomes a real pain when you're used to that.
To make the long story short, after keeping this protection on our web site for several months, I have finally removed it, thinking that there's no real purpose of keeping it there.
My thoughts... And I know I am the only opposition here therefore take it easy on me.
Regards,
ThirstyTowels

Thank you Birdman,

I have tried several things like this in the past with so-so results. I will try this one as well.

I believe what seperates my site from my competitors is my artwork. Most of the people that have replied also have exceptional artwork that they should be proud of it. I take the time to photograph all products, and edit them with photoshop. I feel that that is part of my site, not for general consumption. I know there are ways around it, but every bit helps.

Thanks again.

It goes both ways. It's easy enought to put this in the 'top o page' editor and toggle between default and custom when need arises. Most people trying to farm you wholesale for images (and needlessly burning up your band width) wouldn't know how - or find it too time consuming to to save the page or take it from the temp. This certainly won't stop em, but it might make it enough of a pain in the arse to look elsewhere.

I hate to burst the bubble of these posts, but if you really want to get someone images off their site, even if they have this double secret image protecting code, all you have to do is press the top right button on your keyboard, Print Screen/Sys Rq. Then go into your graphics editor and hit paste and whallah! You have now pirated the images you wanted. This even works with Flash. Sorry guys

cwazy is 100% correct... no matter what you're looking at on your PC, there's no way from stopping people from getting an image (gotta love that print screen button)...

#1. The script you mentioned above only works in Internet Explorer 5.1+ and Netscape 6+. This means all other browsers can save your images with no problems.

#2. Thirstytowels' response is another way of taking images.

#3. For those true at heart and feel like being a paid thief, there are always image capture programs that can capture designated parts of a screen including Corel Capture.

The Javascript mentioned above is only one way to help keep away amateur thieves... you could additionally add the following to your header:

I agree with Ultrashock & Cwazydawg,

These codes are useless. Anyone who has any use or interest with your images, namely other webmasters, not only knows how to click on the right side of their mouse, but also knows how to use (View>Source), or knows how to press (CTRL+C & CTRL+V). If the person stealing your images isn't bright enough to get around that simple script itself, then they certainly won't know what to do with the images after they steal them anyway, such as uploading them to another site etc, so what is the point...

Furthermore, I don't think this "image stealing" is as rampant as people make it out to be. When people do steal images, it is because it is quicker to do that than to take a new picture. If you feel that your images are that important that you must protect them, I would suggest making them transparent and putting your name (© Yourname.com as an example) so that it can't be removed, or can't be removed easily - or you can still put in a subtle © notice on the image itself - that will make most "thieves" search for the image elsewhere, rather than taking the time to edit the image.

If you are going to disable this feature through a script, make sure to only disable the right-click on the images, and not the entire page/site. There are legitimate reasons why a paying customer may want to use the right-click button, which will become annoying if they can't and may send them elsewhere. In addition to "Save Target As", there are a number of other functions through the right-click, yet some webmasters only concentrate on one of them?

Anywho,
I don't mean to ramble - my 2 cents

Brian

Maybe I can help provide some relief to those looking to keep thier images thier own. I am newer to online stores, but have many years experience in desiging web applications. There are companies like DigiMarc that provide both watermarking, and tracking services.

Again, these will not always prevent people from stealing your images. But now if they do, an unremovable proof of your copyright is permanently attached. If you spend the extra expense for the tracking service they provide, they will notify you if there spiders found other websites using your images, and you can contact them directly.

Hope I've helped.

Hello -

I have had ongoing problems with a competitor taking our images and using them

on their website (after putting their name on them!) I really do not want to put our

name on each pic - really takes away from the image - plus we do hundreds of

photos each week and could not possibly use one of the suggestions above.

I have already asked them to stop this - they ignored us. Any advice

would be appreciated.

Thanks

Nancy

I wrote a whole article about this...

http://forums.monstersmallbusiness.com/sho...p/showtopic/710

enjoy!

One method to possibly "deter" image theft for commercial use by competition is to use image designs that are unique to your site. Most image theft by competion is because they're being lazy and don't want to scan, clean, enhance and size a product image. If your thumbnails and larger images are more unique to your site they then need to edit these things and may just move on to another site.

When I mention unique I don't mean having your site name on every pic or anything extreme... If your like most sites your thumbnail images are just x by x squared with a white or transparent background. Maybe you should use a different background color, pattern, or design a circle or custom shape around the product images. Incorporate your images into your overall site design.

In the next couple weeks I'll be able to post examples as I am working on this myself for our new site design

We've had a couple of clients here at Commerce who have wrestled with this issue regarding image theft one very easy way to protect your images is the simple placement of a clear watermark of your images you want protect with the word 'copy' on them or even your logo.

If you are actually selling images like say a photographer use a watermark on all the photos in your site that you are selling. Then when the viewer purchases the photo you can then send them the unedited version, thus protecting your products.