Digital Rights Management (DRM) Overview and FAQs

In February 2005, SAE implemented a Digital Rights Management (DRM) security feature to help control the electronic delivery of individual SAE documents and protect intellectual property. DRM is a term used to describe technologies used for the copyright protection of digital content. Secure documents are encrypted with permissions information and controls that have minimal impact on authorized users of the documents.

The feature utilizes a free Adobe Acrobat plug-in from FileOpen Systems, Inc.
You must download the plug-in to access your downloaded secure SAE documents.
You will only need to download the free plug-in once on the computer that you will be viewing/printing/using with the PDF files that you have downloaded.

Where can I access the File-Open plug-in so I can download my documents?
Click here to install the plug-in. You can install the plug-in at anytime before you purchase encrypted documents for the first time. You will only need to download the plug-in once.

How does the plug-in work?
The plug-in must be installed to open encrypted documents and will read information about your usage rights to access, view, print and work with the document you purchased.

Do I need the plug-in to access SAE documents I've downloaded prior to February 2005?
No, only PDFs that have been encrypted with the DRM security feature will require the Adobe Acrobat File-Open plug-in. Documents that were downloaded prior to February 2005 will not require it.

How do I download my document once I install the File-Open plug-in?
Click here to access information on downloading PDF documents.

What are the restrictions on how I can use my purchased PDF document?
Once you complete your purchase and open the secure document, your PDF will be permanently locked to that computer. You may view it as many times as you like and print it twice. You will not be able to use the document on another computer, or network it to other computers.

I purchase documents for other people in my company. How can I forward the document to the end user?
As long as the document has not been opened, the file may be forwarded to the end-user. The locking technology locks the document to the PC where the file is first OPENED. You can email an unopened document or save the document to your hard-drive without opening it, and then forward it to an end-user who has downloaded the File Open plug-in to their computer.

How do I download a document without opening it?
During the download process, right-click on the link, choose the "Save Target As…" option, choose the destination on your PC, and then click "Close" when the download is complete. The saved file may now be sent to the end-user as an attachment or sent to another computer (lap-top, home PC) for viewing. The secure PDF will be locked to the second computer once the file is opened using the File Open plug-in. The end-user can download the plug-in by clicking here.

I accidentally opened my document on a machine I don't intend to work from…what should I do?
Please contact SAE Customer Service at (724)776-4970 (8-5 EST)

Can I use the secure PDF document offline?
For maximum convenience, it is recommended customers should use secure PDFs when an online connection is available. PDF documents can be used offline, however, the document must first be opened at least once online (from the same computer you will use offline).

What if I need more than one print?
Your document purchase includes "2" hardcopy print-outs. If you need multiple copies of the document, you can purchase additional copies from the www.sae.org bookstore or call SAE Customer Service at (724)776-4970 (8-5 EST)

I only need to print part of the document, what should I do?
If you print a single page or part of an SAE secure PDF, it will be counted as one of your 2 allowable prints. It is recommended you print the ENTIRE document and file it for later use.

What if my computer jams or malfunctions when I try to print my only copy?
Please contact SAE Customer Service at (724)776-4970 (8-5 EST).

If documents are locked to my computer, what do I do if my hard drive crashes or I get a new PC?
Please contact SAE Customer Service at (724)776-4970 (8-5 EST).

How do I know if the FileOpen plug-in is installed on my computer?
Open Acrobat Reader, click on the Help menu and select "About 3rd Party Vendors." If the plug-in is present, FileOpen WebPublisher will be displayed. If is not listed, it is not installed, OR your computer may have download restrictions on it. Please contact your Technical Support Department for assistance. Alternatively, by trying to download the plugin, it will alert you if it's installed.

FileOpen installed correctly but I still cannot view my downloaded PDFs.
Make sure that you've saved the PDF to your hard drive, then close all versions of Adobe and your web browser that you are running. Go back and reopen Adobe and open the file that you've downloaded.

Can I network locked documents or put them in a shared file?
No, locked documents cannot be networked. If a locked document is stored on a network server or shared file, it will still be accessible only by the first computer on which the document was first opened. If you need to put documents in a network environment, please contact SAE Corporate Sales at (724)772-7144 (8-5 EST) for further information.

Can I download a secure PDF, print it and then make copies for others in my company or department?
No. That is a violation of copyright. Documents may be shared or loaned but not reproduced in any fashion. The copyright statement on all SAE Documents read:
"All rights reserved. No part of this publication, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE" Or, check with your management to insure they pay fees to the Copyright Clearance Center for the reproduction of copyright-protected materials.

My colleague just emailed me an SAE Document that I need. Why can't I open it?
There may be several reasons this has occurred. If your colleague opened the secure PDF document before sending it to you, it is now locked to their machine. You will need to purchase your own document at the www.sae.org bookstore, or call SAE Customer Service at (724)-776-4970 (8-5 EST). Or, you may not have downloaded the needed File-Open plug-in to access the unopened secure PDF that you received via email. Click here to download the plug-in.

Are there any special system requirements for the DRM technology to work properly?
The plug-in will load on any version of Windows dating back to Windows95, and any version of Adobe Acrobat/Adobe Reader back to version 4.0. The Macintosh client will load in OSX or OS9 with Carbon and the same versions of Acrobat. These client plug-ins are extremely small (approximately 150Kb, 200Kb in an installer), and may be loaded onto a machine without the user requiring Administrator privileges. It also is compatible with all major browser applications. Network Administrators can find further information at www.fileopen.com

Why has SAE opted to create secure PDFs with Digital Rights Management technology?
Managing access to documents based on copyright ownership and protecting content rights is imperative to the continued development and distribution of technical documents and standards. Many users simply don't know when they are in violation of copyright laws and this technology protects both the user and the publisher of technical information.

What are the new security features of Digital Rights Management that have been applied to SAE PDF documents?

• Reproduction and Redistribution This security system has been implemented through the use of a free Adobe Acrobat plug-in that locks the PDF to the computer on which it was first opened, and can be opened only from that computer.
• Networking Secure PDF files cannot be used in a multi-user, network environment. If you would like to purchase documents for your network, please contact SAE Corporate Sales at (724)772-7144 (8-5 EST) for further information.
• Viewing: You will need to download the FileOpen plug-in to view the document. There is no limit to the number of times a document may be viewed on the single computer it is locked to.
• Printing: The plug-in will limit the number of times the document can be printed to two copies. Printing a part of the document will be interpreted as the one allowable print attempt; it is recommended you print the entire document instead.
• Copy & Paste: You cannot copy and paste from a secure PDF

What do I need to do when I get an Unable to connect to server error?

You will need access to the typical TCP/IP ports (https-443 / http-80). This should already be part of the typical web usage configuration. If you are getting this error, it is possible that the network or personal firewall is blocking requests from "Acrobat Reader FileOpen WebPublisher Plug-in". Please contact your Network Administrator.

I upgraded Adobe and now I can not open my files. Why?

If you upgrade Adobe Reader, you will need to reinstall the FileOpen plug-in.

Click here to download the FileOpen plug-in
Click here for information on downloading PDF documents
Click here for information on ordering.