AutoCAD PDF and Security

[Anonymous]

With CAD being able to read and translate PDF layers now, it is easy now for (shady) clients to “steal” hard working product and hand it off to another professional who has the drawings at their disposal with little to no effort. Is there a best practice to protect our work product that we distribute electronically via PDF?  Has anyone implemented anything?

@Anonymous

john.vellek has edited your subject line for clarity: AuotCAD PDF/Secuirty

[pendean · Accepted solution]

Friend, for anywhere between free to $1500 any scalable printed paper or electronic PDF/DWF/whateverF can be converted to a DXF or DWG file for a couple of decades now since the advent of Raster to Vector software and low cost drafting staff in developing countries.

Best practice to protect yourself? Rock solid contractual agreements and electronic signatures buried in all communications.

Protection is not free, never has been: free solutions have free countermeasures to undo them.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

I feel Dean is correct with his answer. You can also explore encrypted PDFs but ultimately if you share the data, it can be used in some fashion or another so trust and contractual limitations and obligations are key.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[RobDraw]

Why work with shady clients? If they are willing to do something like this, they are probably willing to other things that might hurt your company. You're just asking for trouble.