The Content Theft Problem
You’ve invested in:
- Professional product photography
- Carefully written descriptions
- SEO-optimized content
- Unique product angles
And competitors simply… copy it.
How Content Gets Stolen
Manual Copying
- Right-click and save images
- Copy-paste text
- Screenshot capture
Automated Scraping
- Bots crawl your entire site
- Download all content automatically
- Feed into competitor databases
Source Code Extraction
- View page source
- Download assets directly
- Extract structured data
Where Stolen Content Appears
Direct Competitors
- Use your images on their site
- Copy your descriptions verbatim
- Undercut your prices with your content
Marketplace Listings
- Amazon, eBay, etc.
- Dropshippers using your photos
- Fake “authorized sellers”
Clone Sites
- Complete copies of your store
- Your content used to scam customers
Content Aggregators
- Product comparison sites
- Review aggregators
- SEO spam sites
Impact of Content Theft
Lost Investment
Your photography and copywriting cost money. Theft gives competitors free access to that investment.
SEO Damage
Duplicate content across sites can:
- Confuse search engines
- Reduce your rankings
- Give credit to copiers
Brand Confusion
Your unique content appearing elsewhere blurs your brand identity.
Competitive Disadvantage
Your differentiated content becomes commodity.
Protection with SecurEcommerce
Right-Click Blocking
Prevents the simple save:
- Context menu disabled
- “Save Image As” not available
- Casual theft stopped
Copy Prevention
Blocks text selection:
- Can’t select text
- Copy shortcuts disabled
- Descriptions protected
Keyboard Shortcut Blocking
Prevents workarounds:
- Developer tools shortcuts blocked
- Print shortcuts disabled
- Common extraction methods stopped
Drag Prevention
Stops drag-to-desktop:
- Images can’t be dragged
- Another extraction method blocked
Limitations to Understand
Screenshots Still Work
We can’t prevent screenshots - that’s OS-level functionality.
Determined Attackers
Someone technically skilled can eventually get any visible content.
Automated Scraping
Sophisticated scraping may bypass client-side protection.
The Reality
Content protection is about deterrence, not absolute prevention. It stops:
- Casual theft (90%+ of theft)
- Amateur competitors
- Lazy scrapers
It doesn’t stop:
- Determined professional attackers
- Screenshots
- Manual retyping
Complementary Strategies
Watermarking
Add visible or invisible marks:
- Visible watermarks deter use
- Invisible watermarks prove ownership
Legal Notices
Clear copyright statements:
- Footer notices
- Terms of use
- Metadata in images
Monitoring
Find theft when it happens:
- Reverse image search
- Plagiarism checkers
- Google Alerts for your content
Enforcement
Act when you find theft:
- DMCA takedowns
- Platform reporting
- Legal letters
Setting Up Protection
- Enable content protection in SecurEcommerce
- Select protected pages (typically product pages)
- Test right-click and copy on your site
- Monitor for continued theft
- Enforce when you find violations
The Balance
Heavy protection can impact user experience:
- Some users expect right-click
- Accessibility may be affected
- Mobile behavior changes
Consider:
- Protecting only product pages
- Allowing copy in some areas
- User experience impact
Beyond Technical Protection
Technical measures are one layer. Also consider:
Build Recognizable Branding
Make your content obviously yours through:
- Consistent visual style
- Brand watermarks
- Unique product presentations
Create More Content
If copying is constant:
- Create faster than they copy
- Make copying unsustainable
- Stay ahead with freshness
Focus on Customer Experience
Content thieves can’t copy:
- Your customer service
- Your shipping speed
- Your product quality
- Your brand relationship
Taking Action
Don’t let content theft continue unchecked:
- Enable protection now - Stop new theft
- Audit existing theft - Find what’s out there
- Pursue takedowns - Remove stolen content
- Monitor ongoing - Catch new theft early