Protect doc templates from theft?

[Nick Mirro]

I understand how to password protect a Word doc. Our problem is that
we do not want our techs to be able to copy the templates from our
laptops (that we provide them) onto a usb drive to use for their own
enterprise. There are 5 .dots that have 4 years of improvements.

Is there a way to have a users on our provided xp pro laptops, such
that they cannot lite off with copies of our treasured templates?

 

[Graham Mayor]

I don't see how you can prevent it when the user needs read access in order
to use them. Anything you allow a user to view can be copied. Your best bet
is to speak to a copyright lawyer.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[fumei via OfficeKB.com]

Good advice. And about the only thing you can do...threaten to sue them if
you find out they copied them.

There is zero real security, especially if they are competent techs. If you
can see it, you can get it.

However, that being said, is it possible that the .dot files themselves NOT
be on the laptops? If the .dot files were on a network folder and THAT
folder had Permissions set at the OS level, it may be possible to limit
access to the .dot files thmselves. If the laptop was NOT connected, then
someone could see the results of the template as documents, but any code in
the template would not be accessible. I am assuming it is VBA code in the .
dot file you are trying to protect.

Of course the laptop would have to be connected to that network for your
users to use the templates.

I don't see how you can prevent it when the user needs read access in order
to use them. Anything you allow a user to view can be copied. Your best bet
is to speak to a copyright lawyer.

I understand how to password protect a Word doc. Our problem is that
we do not want our techs to be able to copy the templates from our

[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]

Is there a way to have a users on our provided xp pro laptops, such
that they cannot lite off with copies of our treasured templates?