Any of the formats which insert/require passwords are what you are looking for. However, the client (end user) may not be happy with DRM style draconian methods.

One of the reasons why ebooks, music, film, etc. are not enjoying big dollars on the net.

Whoops! Second look at your original message... sorry. Don't know of any ebook software that will trash/remove/deny access to something you've already sold and they have already received.

Can be only done in the case of connection to your server (detected by password).

(end user) may not be happy with DRM style draconian methods.

One of the reasons why ebooks, music, film, etc. are not enjoying big dollars on the net.

I am debating that point with myself. I am not sure if the problem is a big enough issue to go through this or I simply accept that some percentage of people will try to cheat the system and ask for their money back, but keep the eBook or even give it to others. Perhaps that is simply the a cost of doing business in this environment. I would actually like to hear from others who have sold info products and what their experience has been on this issue.

Can be only done in the case of connection to your server (detected by password)

I thought it would have to be something like that. Basically when they open the book it tries to communicate with a server via the Internet before it fully opens. Assuming that their is no Internet connection or the password has been disabled it would not open.

Software also exists that is locked to the particular machine that downloaded it ..( of course any protection can be "fooled" but most of your "market" would know how ..nor where to look to find out how ) ..and the machine does not need to be connected to the net for subsequent reading ..so no "phone home" ..

some compile to CHM ..some to exe files containing PDF or HTML pages ( with embedded images , flash sound etc if you want all that )..

ebook edit pro is one which will "lock" to machine

[edited by: Leosghost at 6:46 pm (utc) on May 15, 2009]

sorry ..that should read

but most of your "market" would not know how

I am not sure if the problem is a big enough issue to go through this or I simply accept that some percentage of people will try to cheat the system and ask for their money back, but keep the eBook or even give it to others. Perhaps that is simply the a cost of doing business in this environment. I would actually like to hear from others who have sold info products and what their experience has been on this issue.

If you're selling an ebook on how to train your dog, for example, you'll have fewer instances of fraud such as this than if you're selling an ebook on Internet marketing, how to make money online, etc.

One method of fighting this is to not give the buyer everything up front. Let's say your ebook has 20 chapters. You might leave half the information in the ebook and convert the other 10 chapters into an email newsletter series that is delivered over a period of weeks or months. If the buyer tries to "read and return" before the newsletter series is complete, the newsletter subscription for that buyer is canceled.

There are various methods, it depends on what you're selling and the audience.

FarmBoy

There are various methods, it depends on what you're selling and the audience.

Unfortunately I am selling material on marketing topics that would be popular and probably would bring in people that would try and take advantage of the rules. I suppose one cure is to not offer a refund policy of any kind, but from a marketing standpoint that makes it more difficult to sell because all the risk is on the person buying.

I will give my real example.
I purchased ebook and link to DOWNLOAD was sent per e-mail.
Notice: Just LINK was sent to download. Than it transfered to another page of seller and I noticed I have to seek button to DOWNLOAD. I opened it and real activation code was: FGTHJ-15987-RTUIF-59873-JTUIP to see PDF.

After some time I finally get it that I have to seek for
the activation code. This is not sent by website, but by seller.
Notice: company that has secured PDF is not the same as seller, but seller sent activation link...not company with secure PDF.

I could not used months this activation code as seller did not provide me any support (e-mail, phone).

After months I demanded money back from seller and company that secured PDF does not give any data as seller is responsible...even phone number was not possible to get.

Now you know how to deal with PDF.

You can learn how to sell PDF at URL (website):http://www.secure-ebook.com
This is just example as there are many services to sell PDF.

I have figured out a different approach to the issue based on some reading and research. This is a marketing solution to a technical problem.

Since the eBook represents only one product in my product line and actually a lower priced item at that, I decided to put all kinds of "bounce back" offers in my eBook that offer free tips, material, reports, etc. to anyone that opts into my email list. Since I really want a bigger email list by doing this I get some benefit if people send my ebook all over the web for free!

Hopefully people getting it for free will still take advantage of the offers in the ebook and hence I will add new email addresses to my list and hopefully future sales to that list. That is a fair trade in my mind for not paying for my ebook. By including this I frankly don't care if the thing is spread across the entire Internet for free as I know a portion of all those people will end up on my future marketing lists.

Where you quoted ,,opts into my email list''?
Into ebook content or link on your website?

Where you quoted ,,opts into my email list''?
Into ebook content or link on your website?

I would pitch an offer for some stuff in the eBook, actually at the bottom of every page, in the footer and probably still work the offer into some of the content on other pages. It would be a link that would go to a private section of my web site to sign up. This would allow me to track people that hit that page, hence identifying them as a ebook reader and allow them to sign up and do an auto-fulfill of the offer. If I do this right it might be a completely hands off on my part.