I think you are right that there is just no way to protect content in a swf
file. Maybe the question to ask is, how can we go about convincing fearful
IP holders to allow their IP to be embedded in the swf format.
More importantly, there is no way to protect IP in any form if you put
it on the web. It can all be stolen by someone who is sufficiently
determined. The whole idea behind the internet is making IP available, it is
fundamentally contrary to the way the internet works to try to keep people
from being able to aquire copies, since copies are required to view it in
the first place. So forget about keeping people from getting the images, you
siply can't. If they can see it, they can steal it. However...
You mentioned relying on the law, and I think that's the right angle. In
general, do you really have to worry about what some script kiddies might
do with your content once they've stolen it? It seems most of these kinds
of concerns are just a waste of worry - it's professionals that license
IP, not script kiddies that just want to make a l337 logo for their
personal website. Just have a stack of cease and desist papers ready to go
out when you spot an IP violation.
Like you said, are you (and by you I mean your client) worried about me
downloading a picture and making it my desktop or using it on a flyer for my
band, or are you worried about other companies who will actually profit
through the use of your IP? If you're worried about the former, you're
excessively paranoid and should keep your stuff off the internet entirely.
In fact, you're probably better off cancelling your ISP account alltogether,
because they use it to listen to your thoughts. ;-) If you're worried about
the latter, your recourse is after the fact, when you can show that their
use is infringing, and your venue is through the courts. You can't stop
people from stealing it, and money spent trying to stop IP "theft" is very
often money wasted. What you *can* do is enforce your copyrights through the
courts. Of course wrapping it in flash eliminates the causual "save as"
theft, but that's about all it does as far as security is concerned.
ryanm
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