IMDB - how they appear to "copy protect" images

[Darren Dirt]

 Ever looked at something in the photo gallery for an IMDB entry for a movie or TV show, and found you couldn't "grab" the image? Or (if you have the extension available) clicked "Zoom In" on an image, and got a 2x2 grid of the same image? Wuh?


Until now I thought they did some weird server redirect thingie or something.


But today I was curious (and tired of hitting PrintScreen to get a copy of the image!) so I did a ViewSource. (duh.)


Oh, how simple. (Ignoring the non-validatable table code - see for yourself, the darn thing is missing and other foundational stuff!)


So what's their secret? In a word, "background".


- - -


*Take the code I included below, and paste it into a stand-alone .HTML file and run it, trying the following:

Right click the image, and...

#1. Copy (to clipboard - paste into something!)

#2. Save As... (look at what was saved!)

#3. Properties (notice the URL is a common "dummy" image!)

Code Select Expand


<table border="0" width="100%">
<tr>
<td align="center" colspan="3">
 <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" background="http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Ss/0386676/img02.jpg">
  <tr>
   <td><img src="http://i.imdb.com/mptv1.gif" border="0" width="485" height="324"></td>
  </tr>
 </table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>



Being as neurotic as I am, the above code is the "corrected" version - shame on you, IMDB devs!

[Shayne]

 Yup, this is done on a ton of "gallery" style websites

[Mr. Analog]

 No offence but *DUH*, I've been doing that on my homepage through CSS for a while now.

[Melbosa]

 He he, thought you figured that one out already DD, otherwise could have just asked (been scrapping from sites like that for a lot of stuff over the years).

[Mr. Analog]

 I'd also like to note that I didn't use the background property to ensure that people don't grab my images, I really don't care what people do with my pix, it was just a layout thing.  

[Darren Dirt]

I'd also like to note that I didn't use the background property to ensure that people don't grab my images, I really don't care what people do with my pix, it was just a layout thing.

Not focusing on layout; the use of the background to "protectedly" display the intended image was the ... uh... intention of my post. The basic concept is not rocket science, but the way it works on IMDB, being such a well-known long-existing site, is what motivated me to "share".

And hey guys, dudes, "friends", if I wanted to receive unexpected abuse and insults I would have just called my brother

[Mr. Analog]

 Are you really that thin skinned? If you can't take a little friendly abuse from friends you must be having a rough week.

NOW CALM DOWN, TAKE A STRESS PILL AND TELL THE COMPUTER WHAT'S WRONG

[Darren Dirt]

 *gulps placebo*

Hey, thanks fer the suggestion, man, the stress pill worked! Now back to the assembly line I go... *whistles*

[Mr. Analog]

*gulps placebo*

Hey, thanks fer the suggestion, man, the stress pill worked! Now back to the assembly line I go... *whistles*

ALL IS WELL.