CopyRight-IT requires the UltraFind 2.2 application (see below).
CopyRight-IT is an UltraFind Addition (plug-in module) that enables producers and creators of artwork, documents and music (in fact any material which is electronically distributed) to apply a permanent copyright ByLine to a Macintosh file, or a batch of files.
Once applied, the ByLine is displayed in the Finder's 'Get Info' box and will remain attached to the file wherever it goes, ensuring that people using your files will (a) know that the contents are copyright material and (b) know how to contact you.
CopyRight-IT puts the industry standard Copyright string "Copyright 1996 <Your Name>" underneath the filename in the Finder's 'Get Info' box, and adds your contact information (telephone, email, etc.). The information is transparent to all applications and does not interfere with the document contents in any way.
INSTALLATION
CopyRight-IT must be placed in the UltraFind folder (located in the Preferences folder, in your System folder).
UltraFind automatically loads any Additions it finds in it's folder and places them into it's 'Additions' menu. (Tip: If you double-click any UltraFind Addition module, UltraFind will put it in the correct folder for you, and load it into it's menu.)
SETUP
To use CopyRight-IT, you have to first set up your copyright and contact information. (Please configure your copyright and contact information BEFORE using CopyRight-IT on you files!)
To set up CopyRight-IT, select "Configure CopyRight-IT..." from UltraFind's "Additions" menu. You will see that there are 2 separate fields, one for the Copyright ByLine itself and one for the contact information. (The diagram shows where these 2 fields are displayed in the Finder's Get Info box.)
Enter your Name into the first field, after the "⌐ 1996"
In the second field, enter your contact information (usually a telephone number [with the international dial code!], and an email address). Once you have configured these 2 fields, press SAVE.
Please note that the Macintosh Finder has a limited amount of characters it can display in it's Get Info box, so if you put too much information in this second field it may not display properly (the Finder may chop some characters off - so we reccomend you test CopyRight-IT on a few unimportant files to make sure the information is being displayed the way you want - BEFORE using it on valuable files).
APPLYING COPYRIGHT TO FILES
Files to be copyrighted need to be selected in UltraFind's List Window. You don't necessarily have to use UltraFind to find the files first, you can simply drop files onto UltraFind's icon in the Finder (or onto an Alias of UltraFind), or, if UltraFind's List Window is already open you can drag files out of any folder on your desktop and drop them into the window.
To apply your copyright to files, select one or more files from UltraFind's list window and choose "Copyright the selected files" from CopyRight-IT's menu. CopyRight-IT will display a dialog box to confirm the action and, if you are happy with the copyright information it shows you, press the 'Apply' button. That's it. The files you selected now carry your copyright. If you want to check this, get info on a file. (note that sometimes the Finder doesn't immediately update, if your info is not showing up in the file's 'Get Info' box close the Finder's windows and reopen them.)
IMPORTANT NOTES - PLEASE READ
1) For security reasons, if a file already carries copyright information, CopyRight-IT will NOT overwrite it. Therefore it can not be used to change information attached to applications etc., and can NOT be used to overwrite information in files which you have previously applied copyright info to, or files which already carry someone else's copyright info.
(This is why you should not try it out on your files before you have properly configured it with YOUR copyright information)
2) CopyRight-IT is of course not going to stop a determined user from hacking your file or illegally copying your work anyway. But it's a start. And doing something is better than nothing. Until we invent a better way, this is it. At the very least, people will know how to contact you if they find and like your work.
3) Please note that transferring a file to a PC can remove the copyright information from the file (PCs are dumb machines, they don't know what to do with this 'extra' info attached to the file, so they just ignore it.)
4) Please note that if you are working with a copyrighted file and choose "Save As..." the Finder in effect creates a new document - without the copyright information. Unfortunately we can't do anything about this.
If you do not have the UltraFind application, you can get it from the UltraFind WebSite at:
http://www.ultradesign.com/ultrafind, from the LandWare WebSite at: http://www.landware.com, from any Umich or Info-Mac mirror, or from any of the major communications systems (Compuserve, AOL, NIFTY-Serve, PC-VAN, etc.)
UltraFind is a powerful file retrieval and information management utility which puts the MacOS file system at your fingertips. It treats your Mac or network as an information-rich file and text searchable database.
ULTRAFIND ADDITIONS
UltraFind has a variety of Additions (plug-ins) which provide a wide range of file management functions. Some of these are supplied free of charge and are available from our WebSite (http://www.ultradesign.com/ultrafind) and from the major online systems. New Additions are added to our WebSite all the time, so please check the site frequently to see if there is anything you need.
For more information please contact us at:
General Information: info@ultradesign.com
Technical Support: support@ultradesign.com
Support WebSite: http://www.ultradesign.com/support
UltraDesign Technology Ltd.
5/39 St.George's Square
London SW1V 3QN
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 171 931 0010
Fax: +44 171 630 9105
UltraDesign Technology Ltd. designs and develops software exclusively for the Apple Macintosh.
