OT: file copy protection from USB device

[Angie]

I'm cross posting this in both the SAC and SAWStudio forums as I know there are some programming wizards in both.

I'm looking for a way to allow copying of audio files from a USB device only with a password. Viewing and listening directly from the device would be transparent. But upon trying to copy the files, a pop up would appear asking for a password. I would need this to work for both windows and mac. Could Autohotkey be used for this? Any direction you could point me?

Thanks for any plausible ideas.

[CurtZHP]

The one idea that leaps to mind is a password protected zip file of the audio files. It only unpacks with a password.

Not sure how it's done. I only suggest it because, at the radio station where I work, the automation system software is in a password protected zip file.

[RBIngraham]

Yeah, but a password protected .zip file would not allow one to listen to the files sans password. Plus you would have to unzip the entire package to listen to them more than likely.

[andykern]

Could the listener use "Save File As" to get around the Copy password prompt?

[PhaseShifter]

It's been proven many times that copy protection / DRM doesn't work. Not the answer you're looking for, just trying to save you the headache of trying to get something working that is ultimately flawed by design.

[Angie]

I am fully aware of how to get around copy protection. So, no comments in that area are needed. And I'm not looking for a wrapper solution of any kind for the reasons Richard pointed out. Just looking for a pop-up to appear when someone trys to execute a copy (or move) command.

[PhaseShifter]

OK.

Check out stopper for winodws.

No idea if this can be done on a mac.

[Angie]

OK.

Check out stopper for winodws.

No idea if this can be done on a mac.

Thanks for the link.

I'll look into this further, but this looks like it is a program for the PC.
I'm actually looking for a program that would sit on the portable device itself.

[cgrafx]

Hi Angie,

Unfortunately there isn't any direct way to do this.

If the files can be played without a password, they can also be copied as there is no functional difference between playing the file and copying the file.

You would have to have a program on the USB device that would run interference between the audio files and the user. Meaning no direct access to the audio files and the user would have to run the application to play or copy the file.

Of coarse if the user can play the file they can also capture the audio so its not really much protection.

[Philippe M]

Thanks for the link .
Very interesting little programs on this website.

OK.

Check out stopper for winodws.

No idea if this can be done on a mac.