Problems with Copyright

[AckermanFancy]

Is there a way to send a drawing in dwg format where the reciever is unable to make changes to the file. I am having problems with copyright and need to be able to send drawings without the reciever having the ability to change the drawing in any way.

[hay123]

My boss has always wanted all our files protected against changes made by our clients. His argument is that if we send an electronic file, that is then altered, we may be liable for someone elses changes, with no prof of our original work.

 

I feel that the email, is prof, and we are sending electronic formats, for the purpose of it being used by the receiver.

 

AutoCad does offer 2 security options though.

 

1. Drawing Encryption - (encrypted with a password which prevents unauthorised people viewing

 

2. Sign Drawing - Digital signitures which maintains authenticity. I think you have to buy your signiture from an online company, who verifies your identity though.

 

You can look up both of these in ACad help.

 

You can also look online for companies like veri-sign & file finger printer, which may give good results.

 

Another option might be not sending a dwg. but sending a pdf/dwf/tiff or something for people to view & not alter. (there is software to convert these file types back to drawing files, but I'm not sure how well they work, most people wouldn't bother I imagine)

[Tiger]

I'd agree with not sending it in DWG. If the recipient is not suppose to alter it anyway, there's no need to send a DWG. We use PDFs left and right, easy as pie imo.

 

and about software to convert back to DWG - why? There are those, but I've never heard about a decent one that gives you any kind of viable DWG file.

[A1DWG]

How about making the whole drawing an un-explodable block?

[stevsmith]

How about making the whole drawing an un-explodable block?

 

This would not work.

If you open the block editor you can use the copy and paste commands and insert them into a new drawing.

[stevsmith]

If the client needs to check dimensions then you should start publishing them to a dwf. That way they can still take dimensions but not alter the drawings.

The only alterations they can do is mark-up.

[dbroada]

How about making the whole drawing an un-explodable block?

If you know what you are doing it easy to explode an un-explodable box. It really all comes down to why you need to protect it. Don't you trust the people you deal with? If not why are you sending them things in dwg anyway?

[eldon]

If you save and archive a copy of the drawing that is sent, then you always have proof of what the drawing was as it left you.

[hay123]

I have always been against file protection. We request dwg files for the purpose of tearing them apart, using bits of information etc.., I expect the files we send out are for the same purpose.

 

In my many disscussions/arguments with my boss on the topic, the the argument which has been put to me, is if someone changes our plan, and something goes wrong, and a court case is started. How do we prove what information we provided.

 

My suggestion was the copy of our email & attachment would be prof(sorry about the spelling)

 

If people started sending us dwg files which we couldn't alter, I'd be a bit pissed off.

[Tiger]

I actually agree with you there Hay, I have a number of contacts that I communicate with using DWGs, I use their drawings to check that my designs are correct and they do the same with mine. The thing is though, I am absolutetly certain that they would not use my DWGs in their actual drawings, just as I would not use theirs.

 

However, if there's doubt on how the DWGs will be used, the easiest way is not to send them.

 

And ofc, keep track of what you're doing by saving e-mails and write down agreements made over phone etc. So at least your back is free.

[PaulTaylor]

Is there a way to send a drawing in dwg format where the reciever is unable to make changes to the file. I am having problems with copyright and need to be able to send drawings without the reciever having the ability to change the drawing in any way.

I'm trying dwglock from dwgsoft.

Our department keep the original DWG and send our clients the copies generated from the dwglock program.

[rustysilo]

Every time you release a cad file to anyone, whether you trust them or not, you simply append your email with a disclaimer. If you release them on disc include a release letter that outlines the terms of use. Be sure to put a copyright notice within the same. I will post one that we use regularly tomorrow as an example.

 

If you do this there is no reason to lock your dwg files as they will have been given legal notice in regard to the data they receive.

[rustysilo]

Here you go. I use this for all outgoing files. Most of it was borrowed from another company that I received a file from so I just used it and modified.

 

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