Control over publication and distribution of ebooks is essential to prevent the readers from violating privacy rights and illegally sharing or selling of ebooks.

These days, the main concern of the ebook authors is security of their online publications. There are people who buy Ebook and sell it for their own profit. Even, sometimes, the stories are distributed through emails or shared through the Internet by different customers.

This leads to a heavy loss for the author of the ebook. Thanks to the technology developed with internet, it has introduced several products for the security helping the author to have control over the distribution of their ebook. This is also essential for securing privacy rights of the author and preventing pirated copies.

The security program for the ebook is developed with 'IP Tracking' technology. When a customer wants to buy a copy of the ebook, he or she has to enter the user name and password or a license code to access the product for the first time. In this process the IP address is recorded with the online control panel.

If the buyer shares the product with someone else, the author of the ebook is alerted as it will display two or more users with different IP address. If the author finds the ebook being shared illegally, the on-line control panel allows the author the ability to deactivate the copies associated with that IP address.

There are three most popular programs used for IP tracking for the security of e-book.

ClickLocker:

ClickLocker can be integrated into any ebook software. When the buyers want to purchase any ebook, the program directs them to a page where they are prompted to enter name and email address to get registered. The buyers are provided with a license code that they use it to access the product for the first time.

If the author finds any illegal use of the security code, the program allows the author the ability to terminate the license for the buyer. However, the author of the ebook has to pay on monthly basis to keep the program activated, once the service is cancelled all the distributed ebooks are immediately unlocked for the readers.

Virtual vault:

Some features of `Virtual Vault` are similar with ClickLocker. However, this security program allows the author to login into the control panel and prevent the access of the ebook by the buyer who has not paid, even after providing the security code. In this process the violator can not access the product even if the link or the security is emailed to someone else. VirtualVault assure the security of the ebook even if the author is not checking the control panel for multiple users.

Ebook pro:

It is an ebook compiler that comes with built-in security system to allow the author to track licenses as the ClickLocker. The buyer receives a user-name and password to access the ebook. But the author has to set the system so that the buyers can access the product for a specified number of times. The author can login to the control panel to set, disable or reactivate the licenses.

Use of IP tracking system is an assurance that you can save your time of tracking your ebook and simultaneously do your administrative work. Of course, there are some downsides of the system. The system is not able to track if multiple computers are connected with internet having same IP address.

Shortcomings apart, IP tracking is a useful tool of controlling the distribution of ebook. Though it can be expensive, it can save the author of the ebook from frustration of illegal sharing of their publication. However, before deciding to select any IP tracking system the author of the ebook should be practical and think about the pros and cons of every type of tracking system.

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