Automatically Stamping Customer Name on PDF eBooks?

**technologynow** · 24 May 2011, 08:30 PM

I'm using v1.3.9h

I recently bought an eBook in PDF format from pactpub.com and I was able to download it to my PC straight away. When I did, details of my name and where I had bought the book from had been written into the footer of each page.

I intend selling PDF eBooks in a new store, and would like to use the same method to protect customers copying and distributing the products they've purchased.

Presumably, the code would take the purchaser's input (name) and "simply" write it to the footer of the file being downloaded. I would have an idea of the code if it was a text file, but unsure with it being a PDF file.

Does anyone know if this is possible with Zen Cart?
Is anyone doing this?
Is there a module (free or paid) that can do this?

Can anyone help please?

**kobra** · 24 May 2011, 09:19 PM

I recently bought an eBook in PDF format from pactpub.com and I was able to download it to my PC straight away. When I did, details of my name and where I had bought the book from had been written into the footer of each page.

Send me the file!!!

I intend selling PDF eBooks in a new store, and would like to use the same method to protect customers copying and distributing the products they've purchased.

I really do not see where this prevents it from being shared as long as I do not care if your name is on it

**CoolCarPartsOnline** · 24 May 2011, 11:07 PM

Maybe ask the site that sells Zen Cart ebook. When you buy the Ebook your name is also watermarked on the page.

**DrByte** · 25 May 2011, 02:56 AM

Stamping the pages of the file requires finding a tool that will do that watermarking on-the-fly each time the visitor clicks to download the file they've purchased.
You'll need to find a vendor which provides a PHP-driven tool to do that on-the-fly-watermarking, and customize the code to make use of that tool where needed.

**technologynow** · 25 May 2011, 09:00 AM

Kobra

I really do not see where this prevents it from being shared as long as I do not care if your name is on it

It says "This material is copyright and is licensed for the sole use by (IT'S THEN GOT MY FULL NAME AND ADDRESS". You buy one, get your name on it, copy it to a friend or two, they copy it to their friends, who copy to their friends (all with YOUR name and address on it). How long till the publishers get hold of a copy being advertised on eBay? You are obviously rich enough to not bother about being sued by the publishers. In that case, buy your own copy.

CoolCarPartsOnline / DrByte

Thanks for your more helpful answers, and for pointing me in the right direction. I'll follow those suggestions up and add the results here.

**lat9** · 25 May 2011, 05:57 PM

I purchased a license for SetaPdf-Stamper (setasign.de/products/pdf-php-solutions/setapdf-stamper/) for my ZC store and it works like a charm.

**technologynow** · 25 May 2011, 07:33 PM

http://www.hotscripts.com/category/p...ipulation/pdf/ has links to 17 different programmes ranging from free to expensive, and including the programme mentioned by late9 above. I've just checked through them all.

lat9
Not sure, about the SetaPdf-Stamper. Looks as though I can ask it to add anything to an existing PDF file, but not sure this would allow me to add something DIFFERENT each time someone bought an eBook. On your site, does it just add that "This eBook was purchased From ..." or something similar (The same each time), or do you use it to add something like "This eBook was purchased BY ..." or something similar (Different each time) ?

**lat9** · 27 May 2011, 09:47 PM

My site sells downloadable PDF files. Using the PDFStamper, each downloaded purchase is stamped with "Licensed to: <The Customer's e-mail address>", so each purchased version of the PDF is different.

**technologynow** · 16 Jun 2011, 05:06 PM

The SetaPdf-Stamper looks fine but there's quite a high upfront cost.

For anyone with a new site, a better function till you know what volume you're going to be selling may be something like the DocMonk system where you can purchase stamps for individual eBooks. Depending upon volume, this can be from only $0.10 per eBook

**Trees2wood** · 17 Jun 2011, 04:12 AM

Originally Posted by kobra

I really do not see where this prevents it from being shared as long as I do not care if your name is on it

I agree , it wont matter to a lot of people if your name is there or not.

I am sitting here thinking if this weekend one of my brother-in-laws was over and I told him about this eBook I just read that was great and he should read it , but then I tell him the author's name is on my copy so you will have to go to the website and buy your own copy........

Not trying to make you mad and I know you deserve to get paid for what you are doing. just saying your name on the page wont make a big difference to some people.