OK, so I know this may sound like a somewhat unusual question. I also know that "trying to keep bits from being copied is like trying to keep water from getting wet". But we have a request here at work, and I wouldn't think that the request has to be all that uncommon. But I'm not sure what the best solution is to get it accomplished.
Basically, we have a large number of hard copies of various printouts that we deliver to our members at various points of the year (directories, handbooks, conference information, etc.). Most of these physical deliverables are paid for by our members, either directly or through their membership dues. Recently, with the changes in technology, more and more members have started requesting having their copies in digital format, rather than in a hard copy. Further, I have started trying to push going paperless with those, in order to cut costs in production, time, labor, etc.
Unfortunately, we have one large stumbling block - we need the ability to prevent someone from taking their digital copy that we send to them, and passing it on to other non-paying members. While this may not be too big of a deal if they pass it off to someone who's not a member, and who wouldn't be paying us anyway, we're a bit leery of them passing it onto other paying members, and then having those members stop paying since they can get a copy of it, etc. So, we've gotten to the point where we're struggling with digital rights, and the happy balance between keeping paying members happy, and not losing a lot of money in them making copies and sending them on. Furthermore, some of the stuff that we send may be sensitive in nature, and we'd like to minimize the ability for that to be passed onto other unintended recipients easily.
Now, I have absolutely no idea how to tackle this issue. We NEED to go digital with this stuff, as that's the way things are going. People would rather have the large binders and handbooks digitized, searchable, and loaded on their tablets, rather than having to haul them around.
I know that Adobe Acrobat has some built in security permission controls, preventing someone from copying text directly from the PDF, printing the PDF, or editing the PDF. However, obviously the file itself can still be copied from the OS, circumventing Adobe's built in control. Furthermore, many third party PDF readers / editors don't follow the security restrictions of the PDF, thereby rendering them useless anyway.
Am I looking at a lost cause? I know the ultimate solution would be to completely change our business model and our thought process regarding this. But until we can completely change our business model (which will take YEARS - if we're lucky), I need to try to find some way of at least mitigating enough that we can move forward doing so. But I'm stuck as to a solution. Help?
Thanks!