Preventing right-click menu in Netscape

[Bill211]

Understood, and I appreciate all the input. For what it's worth, the last link Bob posted (here) points to a script that disables the "save as" option ONLY. That seems to work nicely, without inconviencing members that want to open a new window or view source.

[GregJ]

I took a look at that link you mentioned from Bob and it does address the most objectionable elements of the usual anti-right click scripts. The page makes some good points as well about why one should avoid the right click suppression urge. If the whole page is full of graphics however, it may make it hard to avoid the images. How does it work if you use an image in a link (a button)? Is the right-click anti-pop-up activated? If so, then it will still be frustrating to those who right-click to open links in new windows.

You mentioned that the graphics are smiley size things for the most part, so watermarking them may be impractical. Why not digitally sign them, create a page on your website with all of the smileys showcased (be proud of your work), indicate that they are digitally signed, and claim copyright? That might deter some, and if anybody got excessive about the thieving you have a "published" referent and digitally signed items to challenge them with.

Possibly investigate the poor-man's copyright idea where you create a copy of the copyrighted items, seal them in an envelop and send it to yourself registered mail (that proofs the date and owner) and store the thing is a safety deposit somewhere.

I doubt it has the same legal weight of formal actions, but it is cheap and does prove date and owner in case "who's first" becomes an issue.

-g
I'm not a lawyer, and the above is not to be construed as legal advice.

[Bill211]

The images I'm concerned about are not mine, they are copyrighted by a digital graphics company. I've purchased a license to use them on my site, but it's incumbent on me to do whatever I can to prevent their unauthorized use.

The images already contain an embedded copyright, and my site has always had a disclaimer that it's content may not be redistributed without express written permission.

Still, with all that in place, one person ignored it all and blatently copied some of the images and posted them for public use. I'm just trying to go the extra mile to do whatever I can to discourage this kind of abuse.

The company that owns the copyright has checked my site at my request and feels that I've already done what I can. I was just hoping there was some last tidbit I could use to help close the remaining holes (i.e., those few individuals who have no qualms about blatently stealing the work of others).

I guess, as always, to control the actions of the few, it would be necessary to trod on the privileges of the many.

[Randall]

Originally posted by Bill211:
For what it's worth, the last link Bob posted (here) points to a script that disables the "save as" option ONLY.

In IE and Netscape 4, you don't get a right-click menu over an image. That would prevent right-clicking to open an image link.

In Mozilla-based browsers, clicking on the dialog's "OK" button brings up the menu after the fact. If the OK button happens to be positioned outside the area of the graphic, you don't get the save option -- I guess because it was triggered after you left the graphic. If it overlaps, you can save the image.

It has no effect on Opera 7.

Randall

[Bill211]

The only image used as a link on these particular pages is the logo for my site, which takes you to the main page. The script is only implemented on the "smilie" pages, and the users can easily return to the main site by simply clicking the "logo", there would be little point in opening another window to do so.

Since the script isn't implemented on the main site, I don't prevent someone from saving an individual smilie, just make it more difficult to grab an entire set to be reused for their own purposes. With only 200 members, I'm not aware of any of them using Mozilla based browsers, they are mostly IE, with a few Netscape, and 1 or 2 WEBTV mixed in.

While the latest script still seems to have some down sides, I believe it's the best I can do for making a repeat of the wholesale stealing of the copyrighted images impractical. If anyone wants the images badly enough to jump through the necessary hoops to get them, then I'll let the copyright holder pursue it from there.

It's quite a testament to Futurequest's community to be able to ask a question and receive both sides of an issue without anyone getting bent out of shape. I just love this place.

Again, thanks to everyone for the input.

[Randall]

One last caveat: IE and the Mozilla family allow you to save a page as "Web Page, complete" -- which includes the images. This is a far more efficient way to steal a collection of images, and the script can't prevent that.

But if you put the smilies in a Javascript window with no menu bar (like FQ does), IE users can't save the page. Mozilla has a "Save Page As" command in the right-click menu, but IE does not.

Randall