If you have spent much time and effort in creating your website, you will want to ensure that it is protected from website plagiarism. This may include taking steps to disable right click functions, disable view source code functions or adding HTML encryption software. Website plagiarism is very common. Do not let it happen to your webpage. Instead, take steps to make plagiarism much more difficult for people wishing to copy your work without authorization.

What is Website Plagiarism?

Website plagiarism is where people copy elements of your website without authorization. This may include copying text, images, design elements, graphics, Javascript elements or HTML source. They then may use of these elements on their own websites. Although this may not seem like a big deal, it means that people are benefiting from the time and effort you put into creating your website. It also means that your website is no longer original, because there are other copies on the Internet. Even though you know you created the original version, others may not. They may visit other sites instead of your own. If your website is designed to make money, this could result in lost profits. It’s best to take steps to stop this kind of plagiarism, ensuring that nobody copies your work.

Ways in Which Content/Design Elements Can be Taken From a Web Page

There are many ways in which the content or design elements can be taken from a web page. Many of them are used by people, without them even realizing they are doing anything wrong. Unfortunately, text, images and HTML sources are easy to copy for the person who knows what they are doing. Here are some of the ways that website elements can be copied:

•    Right mouse clicks. This is used mainly in graphics or images. The person simply right-clicks and then saves the image in their folder.
•    Text selection. Text selection is very easy to copy from an Internet page. The material is simply highlighted, then copied. It can then be pasted onto another document.
•    Page printing. Another way of copying material is to print a page. The person then has a printed copy of the design and content of the website. They can copy these elements in their own web pages.
•    Drag and drop function. This function enables people to highlight something on the Internet, then drag and drop it into another document.
•    Viewing source code function. Most Internet browsers contain a function that allows people to view the source code. For instance, in Internet Explorer, the user can simply click View, then Source, and the HTML source is displayed. This
•    HTML source can then be copied, enabling someone to steal your designs.

The Best Ways to Protect Your Web Pages From Theft

The best way to protect your web pages from this kind of theft is to disable the functions that allow people to easily view and copy your website content and designs. The types of things you can do to protect your website include:

•    Disable right click
•    Disable view source code
•    Use a HTML encryption tool
•    Disable printing
•    Disable drag and drop

Software Packages That Protect Websites

One of the easiest ways to protect your website and disable the types of functions that allow for easy website plagiarism is to use software that does these functions for you. One of the most popular types of software for website protection is a HTML encryption tool. If you want to stop people from viewing and copying your HTML, encrypt it so that it means nothing to anyone viewing it and cannot be used. You can spend some money on getting a good HTML encryption utility or you can find one of the free HTML encryption packages available on the Internet.

Some of the more popular HTML encryption software packages include:

•    Advanced HTML Protector 3.0. This software package protects all the elements on your web page, including the HTML code, text, links, graphics and JavaScript. It also encrypts the web page and makes it impossible for people to read or steal the source code. It disables right mouse clicks, text selection, page printing, offline use and links display. This software costs around $30.
•    TagsLocks PRO. This package contains different encryption functions for your webpage. You can choose to encrypt the whole web page, or only some of the content. Hyperlinks and email links can also be encrypted. A personal license costs around $30.
•    Advanced HTML Encrypt and Password Protect. This software allows the user to encrypt HTML and protect files with a password. People will not be able to view the source code or steal images. There are three encryption schemes; simple, medium and strong. It also allows functions such as disabling right-click and screen printing. It costs around $30.

There are also a number of free HTML encryption packages available on the Internet. These include:

•    Free Coding Tool Screenshot
•    CryptoExpert 2004 Lite
•    FileBarricader 2004
•    Crypt4Free
•    MT Encryption Pad
•    AES Free
•    DKS File Cryptor
•    CHAOS
•    P-Encryption Lite
•    FineCrypt

“Do it Yourself” Ways to Encrypt a Webpage

Another way you can encrypt your webpage is to do it yourself. This is a method that works best for people who are very comfortable working with HTML and scripts. If you do not have a good understanding on how to work with HTML, it will probably be best to work with encryption software. If, however, you are confident of your abilities to work with HTML and scripts, then you may like to consider encrypting your webpage yourself.

To encrypt your own web page, you will need to generate a customized version of the decryptor script. This will be placed in the head section, where the body code will be encrypted. This code can be placed in an external file attached to the head, or script tags can be pasted directly onto the page. There are a number of places which will help you generate the right script for your page. Focus on Javascript as a good tool for generating your script. You can find reference material at javascript.about.com/library/blenc.htm.

A Secure Web Page

It may not be possible to ensure complete security for your webpage. Even with the best possible security measures available, some people will find a way to get around them. However, with some good HTML encryption software and if you disable right click, page printing and other functions used to copy material, your web page will be more protected from website plagiarism.