- Documents Should Be Open
- 13.8.2009
Have you ever encountered a secured PDF? I just did. Basically, it is designed to prevent you from almost anything other than printing the PDF in question. Although I'm not sure about the exact restrictions, I do know that it prohibits me from uploading it to Google Docs. I use multiple computers, and Docs is what I've adopted to keep basic documents synchronized among them.
I see this as the emergence of DRM for the document industry. I paid for the document. I should be able to use it within my legal limitations on all of my computers.
That being said, if you convert the PDF in question to a PS file (very well documented all over the internet), and open the PS file in a text editor. You should see a code segment somewhere in its contents that resembles this:
%ADOBeginClientInjection: DocumentSetup Start "No Re-Distill" %% Removing the following eleven lines is illegal, subject to the Digital Copyright Act of 1998. mark currentfile eexec XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 cleartomark %ADOEndClientInjection: DocumentSetup Start "No Re-Distill"
That code segment prevents PS to PDF conversion programs from operating. By removing that code block (which is illegal as stated above), programs like ps2pdf are then able to process the document back into an unsecured PDF.
I really don't see the point in DRM-like countermeasures such as these, because they prevent users from properly viewing what is rightfully theirs. I see companies that are pushing DRM blowing money on a battle that cannot be won. A much more suave approach would be to tag a normal file with a link to a user's account. In the event that something gets leaked, the source of the file can easily be obtained, and all of the normal law-abiding citizens can go merrily on their way and use their property as they wish.
