Educators often worry about protecting their course materials from being copied or downloaded without permission. Some educators consider disabling the right-click and copy-paste functions on their content to prevent unauthorised copying or downloading. While this might initially seem like a reasonable way to protect your resources, it leads to unintended consequences that hinder the learning experience while being largely ineffective at protecting content copying. In this article, we’ll explore why disabling right-click and copy-paste functions is not an effective solution.

False sense of security

Targeted Content Theft Goes Beyond Right-Clicking and Copy-Paste

For those intent on copying your content, disabling right-click or copy-paste is not the inconvenience it is perceived to be. Those who are trying to misuse or redistribute your materials are unlikely to rely on right-click, copy-paste, or other manual methods. Instead, they will use commonplace automation tools that can scrape entire web pages, download embedded media, or capture content in bulk.

These automated methods are simple to use, often in the form of browser extensions, and render any browser interaction restrictions ineffective, as they operate independently of browser functions. By focusing on disabling right-click or copy-paste, the more significant threats posed by these automated tools is overlooked, which can effortlessly extract content regardless of any surface-level protections that have been put in place.

Easily Bypassed

Further ways that right-click and copy-paste are commonly bypassed:

• Tech-savvy users can easily bypass any interaction restriction using various methods, such as using browser extensions or developer tools. 
• Commonplace AI tools have the capability to read text from screenshots and reformat the content automatically. Any content that appears on the computer screen is susceptible to this type of copying and is as easy to perform as copy-pasting.

Limiting the learning experience

Access to accessibility tools

Many learners use accessibility tools like screen readers or translation services, which often rely on text selection capabilities and context menus (including right-click and copy-paste functionality). Disabling right-clicking, context menus, or copy-pasting can hinder learners' ability to access and engage with your content fully, particularly for learners with disabilities. Some learners also rely on copying passages of text or images into accessibility tools.

Inhibits note-taking and research

Text selection, right-clicking, and copy-paste functionalities allows learners to copy text for note-taking or to search for additional information online. Preventing this can limit their ability to engage in deeper learning and research.

Potential negative impact on user experience

• Frustration among learners: When users find that right-click or copy-paste is disabled, it can lead to frustration, especially if they are trying to use basic functions like copying a link or saving an image for reference.
• Reduces platform usability: Disabling right-click or copy-paste may also interfere with the platform’s overall usability, leading to a negative perception of your course or the platform itself.

Better alternatives

Restricting Access to your Course

The most effective way to safeguard your course content is to restrict access to those who are genuinely authorised to view it. Carefully vet potential users before granting access to ensure that individuals with dubious intentions are not given entry. You may also implement measures such as requiring more detailed user registration and verification. Additionally, monitor usage patterns in your course community for any suspicious activity or unusual behaviour that might indicate misuse or intent to copy content. By remaining vigilant about who can access your course and proactively managing these access controls, you can better protect your resources from unauthorised copying and maintain the integrity of your content.

Further approaches

• Watermarking: Adding a visible or invisible watermark to your course materials can deter unauthorised sharing while still allowing learners to interact with the content.
• Clear communication of usage rights: Educating learners on the appropriate use of materials and clearly stating usage policies can reduce the likelihood of unauthorised distribution. Provide learners with clear guidelines on how they can use the materials responsibly with Custom Terms and Conditions to communicate the policies around course material and usage distribution. 
• Embed content within the platform: Instead of hosting materials on external sites and linking to them, ensure that videos, documents, and other resources are directly embedded within the platform. This way, only authorised users who are enrolled in the course have access to it.
• Periodic content updates: If you’re concerned about outdated materials being distributed, periodically update your content. This ensures that learners always access the most current version while making shared copies less valuable.

While disabling right-click might seem like a simple solution to prevent unauthorised downloading of your course materials, it often does more harm than good. It can limit the learning experience, provide a false sense of security, and negatively impact user satisfaction. Instead, consider using alternative methods that protect your content while maintaining a positive and accessible learning environment.