Using Safeguard PDF Security to protect Intellectual PropertyOne of the biggest problems for manufacturers of large and complex machinery (aircraft engines, mechanical diggers and scrapers, rocket movers and so on) is parts lists and repair manuals. These are usually large documents that have to kept bang up to date or they are not much use (can even be dangerous). And they also have to be made available to authorized dealers and distributors.
Paper distribution of manuals ceased in many sectors (aerospace, motor, major plant and fabrication) years ago, first in favor of micro-fiche and then using CD or DVD as it because more practical to update and distribute these through copying houses. That worked for solving the distribution and update side of the system, but once ‘electronic’ or digital copies were available they were too easy to copy and it became simple for a competitor or an unapproved dealer to get hold of a copy and start using the information to deliver unapproved services or in anti-competitive ways. Both of these activities could cause loss of franchise income and potentially reputational loss where work is done with substandard materials or using unapproved alternative parts.
These problems can be resolved by using DRM services to control who is actually licensed to use which documents, and for how long. PDF DRM controls are available to let you stop use immediately (say when a distributor leaves a franchise) or on a preset date because you will republish at that time. Now that cloud technology is proving more popular, with these controls you can make these electronic documents instantly available to authorized users over the Internet, update them online, and ensure that the latest version is always in use – administered from one central point and always under your control.
