I have a product I want to sell, it should be about a 3-5MB download, I want to offer payment through Paypal and perhaps with Clickbank. How do I keep people from sharing the download link? I don't want to install any full blown shopping carts for this, what are my options?
Not many, if someone wants to share it they can... if the giants like MS or Warner Bros cant stop piracy I doubt you can. For a DIY solution you generate a unique download link for each purchase and then either limit the number of times the link can be used before it dies, have a set length of time before it dies or a combination of the two. Alternatiavely there are solution providers that will deal with all of that aspect for you
If you want Paypal, use www.e-junkie.com Automated delivery through email and five downloads only - the link is an e-junkie one that expires so no worries with people sharing it. They could of course save it to the computer and upload it on Rapidshare though...
I know it may get pirated, just didnt want to make it too easy. It would really suck to be losing bandwidth as well as losing my files. Ive bought things here and people have just given me a web page to download from, I guess I could try it manually but that would piss people off if they want it at 4 in the morning. Maybe I I will embed the url in the flash code.
or the easy way.. if you use cpanel, you will notice that there is an option for protect directory. create a subdomain of your folder, then go to protect folder link and protect your folder. on the settings, put in 2 as to give the user 2 times/try for downloading the files. Im cant wrote any longer because of this stupid keyboard, but if you need more info on this, pm me or add me on msn.
Well, I use cubecart and it gives the buyer a token. Only so many downloads per token (you set the limit, usually 3). You can also load it in a folder that is below the public root folder if you specify a server path. CC tells you how to do it. I'm wondering if the paypal encrypted buttons do the same token thing. They have a token key when you have a business account and they might allow you a download limit as well.
BTW in even www.e-junkie.com ppl will charge u back, as no shipping info u cant stop it. My sense plimus better.
Any method involving credit cards will open you to bogus chargebacks it is the nature of being in business and the law predominately favours the consumer over the business.... just need to build it into your cost model.