Adobe Content Server

Adobe DRM Digital Rights Management & ADEPT

Protect IP

Protect PDF documents no matter where they reside:

Stop unauthorized access
Stop sharing and distribution
Strong US Gov strength encryption, DRM and licensing controls

Restrict Use

Set Expiry

Revoke Access

Watermark

Log Use

Comply Law

Benefits

Adobe DRM for PDF Files & Ebooks

What is Adobe Content Server?

Adobe Content Server is a server-controlled approach to Digital Rights Management (DRM) that was originally introduced by Adobe for PDF documents (DRM PDF). Although there were 4 releases, with Adobe Content Server 4 becoming available in 2008, by 2010 the system appeared to be on its last legs, and attempts to purchase a service by the middle of that year failed. Adobe later revived it and is now actively selling it as a system to protect digital books in PDF, EPUB, and EPUB3 formats called Adobe Digital Editions DRM or ADEPT (Adobe Digital Experience Protection Technology).

Adobe Content Server was developed to provide an extension to the early DRM controls that Adobe provided within their PDF product. These were to control user access (by use of a password), prevent editing (also exporting, but not necessarily copying), and reduce printing quality. As Adobe noted, not all PDF viewers actually ‘respected’ the controls offered, so there were methods for bypassing the initial control system.

Although Adobe Content Server went through a number of iterations, and releases came and were withdrawn, release 4 contained the ability to restrict the use of controlled documents to six devices, have an end date for access that could be renewed (to facilitate lending libraries and similar institutions) and could limit the number of prints that could be made from a document within a given time frame.

Adobe Content Server DRM controls can be applied to PDF documents, and also to documents using the ePub format Adobe Digital Editions. It is still used by a number of platforms processing these formats, as well as by some libraries.

How much does Adobe Content server cost?

Adobe does not directly publish Content Server pricing, as it sells Content Server via authorized resellers. However, according to one of those resellers, PDIConsultores, pricing is as follows:

Initial license: $10,000/year
Maintenance and support: $2,500/year
Per ebook: $0.23 for each ebook activation (payable each month)

You can expect to pay a further $5,000-$10,000 in development and deployment costs.

Adobe Content Server Cracks: Why ACS is flawed

So, what caused Adobe Content Server to be withdrawn in 2010? Perhaps the root of the problem was grounded in the approach, which started with the PDF document itself and the inclusion of the password with the document (so elegantly exploited by Elcomsoft – see PDF & Ebook Security Flaws).

Back in September 2001, the Adobe document, Adobe Content Server_pdf_v42.pdf, referencing the then current version of Adobe Content Server contained the statement, “EBX is the recommended packaging technique. EBX packaging gives you fine control over the permissions that accompany your eBooks, and it allows customers to read them using Acrobat eBook Reader, which is designed specifically for reading eBooks. If you use EBX packaging exclusively – and if all your customers download eBooks using Acrobat eBook Reader – you do not need a PDF Merchant certificate, and you can ignore the rest of this document.”

It was only a matter of time before a direct attack on the key traveling with the secured document was mounted. In an article published in February 2009, a technique for doing this was published that broke the Adobe Content Server architecture, while revealing how the architecture operated and the elements of a DRM control system. And thus, Adobe Content Server was withdrawn from the PDF DRM space.

When Adobe Content Server 5 was introduced, Adobe announced that it had “an improved and hardened DRM solution to protect PDF and ePub files from unauthorized viewing”. This took the form of an option publishers could select by setting a flag in ACS 5. However, many blogs still provide links to software that claims to remove the protection. A simple search will also return results for the Calibre DeDRM plugin, EPubsoft Toolbox, and Epubor, all of which state that they will remove the DRM protection from both Adobe PDF and EPUB formats. Despite the claimed security improvements, then, the ACS system remains vulnerable to attack.

How to remove Adobe Content Server security

You may be surprised at just how user-friendly the tools to remove the DRM applied by Adobe Content Server are. Users can download a program or add-on and remove Adobe ADEPT DRM in seconds, copying, printing, or modifying the contents of the e-book. This is how it works using Epubor, which offers a free trial:

Open the Adobe Content Server Message to download your eBook to Adobe Digital Editions
Install and Open Epubor. Select the format you would like to convert the ebook too and press “Convert to x”
After a second or two, you can press the folder icon to retrieve the DRM-free ebook

As you can see, the removal process takes no technical knowledge. All it requires is the ability to download a program and press a few buttons.

Secure alternatives to Adobe Content Server

Stop Piracy of PDF files & Ebooks

At the same time as Adobe Content Server was being introduced, other DRM-enforcing programs were being developed, some specifically addressing the PDF format and others addressing DRM for a wider number of file types.

PDF DRM products such as those from Locklizard have avoided the dangers of Adobe Content Server, and do not have an option that sends the decryption key, or the decryption method along with the protected file(s). For the many weaknesses in the Adobe implementation see PDF Security Issues.

Locklizard provides many advantages over Adobe Content Server by securely applying digital rights to Adobe PDF files

Cost Savings
No charges per PDF or ebook sold – just a one-off fee for unlimited users and documents.
PDF ebook format
Protection of PDF files rather than proprietary ebook formats.
Dynamic Watermarks
Dynamic watermarking – you only have to secure your PDF file once for all users, rather than needing to secure ebooks individually for each user to display unique user information (name, email, etc.).
DRM Controls
- Stop screen grabbing
- Stop printing (or limit the number of prints)
- Expire PDF files after a number of days use, views, prints, or on a fixed date
- Revoke PDFs instantly (regardless of where they are) if a chargeback is made
Device & location locking
- Lock use to devices and locations to stop users sharing your PDFs with others
- Control the number of devices your secure PDF files are installed on
No Passwords
No passwords or codes for users to enter – keys are transparently and securely transferred to authorized devices.
Why you should not password-protect PDF files.
Zero installation Viewers
Publish PDFs securely on USB devices for zero installation or for viewing in a Browser.
Secure Distribution
- Secure PDF files on your local computer – no uploading of unprotected files to a cloud server
- Distribute secure PDFs just like any other file – upload them to a cloud server, your web site, send by email or distribute on CD, USB, etc.
Simple to use
Our PDF security software is simple to use:
- secure PDFs by right clicking on them in Windows Explorer
- manage users and document access via the cloud

Why Locklizard rather than ACS for PDF & Ebook DRM?

PDF file protection without passwords

Locklizard takes your document protection seriously. We provide total PDF protection with US Gov strength AES encryption and public key technology to ensure that your PDF files remain protected regardless of their location.

Our DRM PDF Security products enable you to distribute documents securely without insecure passwords or plug-ins, and enforce access, location, expiry, and usage controls.
Unlike Adobe Permissions, which can be easily removed, our DRM controls persistently protect your PDF files and enable you to revoke PDFs at any time regardless of where they are.
No keys are exposed to users or interfaces and documents are only ever decrypted in memory – see our DRM technology.
Our easy-to-use administration system provides simple user and document management and unlike passwords, keys are transparently and securely managed for you.

Our software is also cheaper and more growth-friendly than Adobe Content server:

	Adobe Content Server	Locklizard Safeguard (perpetual)
Initial license	$10,000	$4995 (+ $2000 for optional e-commerce integration)
Yearly fees	$2,500 mainternance charge	$0 or $800 hosting fee
Development and deployment	$5,000 – $10,000	Optional
Per sale fee	$0.23	$0

See our customer testimonials or read our case studies to see why thousands of organizations use Locklizard PDF security to securely share and sell their documents.

FAQs

What is an Adobe Content Server Message?

Adobe Content Server Message refers to Adobe’s .acsm file format, which is used by its Adobe Digital Editions ebook reading software. They are used to activate and download content that has been protected by Adobe’s ADEPT DRM.

How does Adobe DRM work?

Adobe Content Server’s DRM works in three steps:

A user logs into a bookstore or website and purchases an ebook.
Adobe Content Server collects a user ID and book information and sends it to the Adobe Cloud.
The Adobe Cloud, which keeps a log of user IDs, devices and books, automatically delivers the ebook to all devices that belong to the user. The user can log in to their account and can read the book on authorized devices via the Adobe Digital Editions application or e-reader software.

Adobe ADEPT DRM uses a per-user RSA key to encrypt a per-book AES key, which then encrypts the content. Cryptographically, it is a near-faultless system. However, because the per-user RSA key is not hidden, it is simple to duplicate the process and use this to break the security.

How do you remove DRM from Adobe Digital Editions?

Adobe Digital Editions DRM is easy to remove. After retrieving your ebook via its .ascm file, it is saved in your documents folder. All you need to do is open this ebook in an application such as Epubor or Calibre with the deDRM plugin to convert it to any DRM-free format.

Is Adobe Digital Editions free?

Yes, Adobe Digital Editions software (ADE) is the app used to read e-books and PDFs protected by Adobe ADEPT DRM. The cost is instead on the publisher, who has to pay for Adobe Content Server in order to protect and distribute their books using the DRM solution.

Is Locklizard Safeguard suitable for library use?

Yes. Locklizard is an excellent replacement for Adobe Content Server or other platforms which allow their DRM controls to be easily removed. It gives public libraries access to a flexible set of controls, including expiry, while maintaining security regardless of where documents are stored and maintaining wide device compatibility.

What is Adobe Digital Experience Protection Technology?

This is Adobe’s proprietary digital rights management scheme for protecting digital content (e.g. PDF books and other digital publications) and is referred to as ADEPT. Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) uses ADEPT to protect e-books and other digital publications.

Customer Testimonials

We needed to deliver e-book versions of our handbooks while not compromising on security and digital rights. Safeguard PDF security is easy to use and intuitive.

The implementation was painless and we now have a greener, more secure way of distributing training manuals.
Locklizard’s PDF protection is exactly as described – the features are highly effective and I would give it 5 stars.

I would recommend Locklizard to others - their security is simple to use and fit for purpose. It meets common needs of businesses who have information they want to protect.
We would be happy to recommend Locklizard to any company needing a flexible way to secure PDF files.

Safeguard PDF Security has provided us with a very workable solution for sharing of information in a secure fashion. The support has been excellent and very accommodating.
We can cut accounts for a user five minutes before his class starts and he is ready to go. Happy smiling customer, while we still have security and personalized watermarking.

I have immense respect for the product and Locklizard provide great customer satisfaction and service.
We would recommend Safeguard to other companies for its security, cost and ease of use. It does what we expected it to do and more.

Ease of use is a bonus and the implementation was very easy. The product manual is excellent and Locklizard staff are very accommodating.
We sell a highly valued educational product in an open and competitive market so it was important to ensure we had effective security to protect our digital rights.

We highly recommend Locklizard - a professional company with a competitive and professional PDF Security product.
We would absolutely recommend both Locklizard as a company, and Safeguard PDF Security. It has transformed our study materials to the next level.

Not only did this increase sales, but we also believe that it has increased our customers’ ability to learn, which is even more important!
We would recommend Locklizard Safeguard to other companies that need to protect PDF reports. Customers have found the process of accessing the protected documents to be seamless.

Implementation was easy and technical support has been very responsive to requests for help.
Our company would without reservation recommend Locklizard. Their document DRM software opens up delivery of our new products in a timely fashion while knowing that the content will remain secure.

The return on investment to our company has been immediately evident.
We use Safeguard to make sure that documents cannot be opened outside our local network or from a unauthorized computer in order to copy or print the documents.

It is the most feature rich, affordable, & simple to use PDF security product on the market.
Safeguard PDF Security is simple to administer and meets our needs, consistently delivering secured manuals to our customers with ease.

Return on investment has been elimination of many man hours, printing resources and postage – it is estimated that costs decreased by 50% or more.
We would really recommend Safeguard PDF Security to every publishing company for managing ePubs or e-books securely. It is easy to secure PDF files and simple to distribute them to our authorized customers only.

Locklizard also provides a good customer support experience.
The ROI for us is incalculable. We have the security of knowing that our proprietary documents are secure. This is the entire value of our company.

I would most certainly recommend your PDF security product and already have. The ease of implementation was surprising.
We can now sell our manuals without the need to print them first, saving time, money and helping safeguard the environment.

We would recommend Safeguard PDF DRM – it is the perfect solution to sell and send e-documents securely whilst making sure someone cannot copy them.
We would recommend Locklizard to other companies without hesitation.

Their PDF DRM products provide a manageable, cost effective way to protect intellectual investment and they are always looking for ways to improve them. Moreover, their staff provide an excellent level of support.