There are certain websites that do not allow copying of the contents
on their web pages. This may be with an objective to ensure that their
content is not pirated, i.e., to protect their content from theft.
However, sometimes you may need to copy such content with the genuine
intention of, say, doing some research work or to use it in some other
bona fide manner. So, your intention is not to indulge into piracy of
the contents or into content-theft, but to use such content in good
faith for some research purpose etc. How to copy such copy-protected
content on web pages in such genuine cases?
Well, generally speaking, it is possible to copy the copy-protected contents of websites, though the method of copying may be difficult. Here are some suggestions:
(1) Many of copy-protected web pages use JavaScript to disable copying of their contents. So, if you disable JavaScript in your browser, it should become possible to copy their content like that from any other normal page. For more details, read the following articles:
Sometimes, it is possible even to convert the PDF file back into editable text using optical character recognition software or online OCR services. For more information, read, Convert scanned documents to text by free online OCR.
(3) Try to save the copy-protected web page as HTML file, and then from that HTML file, you can try to extract plain text and copy that. The HTML file can be saved using the Save As option available in most browsers. Alternatively, you can View Source of the web page, and then save the source as a text file.
(4) Use Print-Screen key on the keyboard to print the screen and then save it as an image. Alternatively, use any of the methods described in the articles below to take screenshots of the web page:
(5) You can even try to use your digital camera, or your mobile phone camera, to take picture of the web page.
Usually, these methods should help you to copy text from a copy-protected web page or to save its contents for your genuine purposes. However, please respect the copyright of the contents, and use the copied contents only for the permissible genuine purposes.
Well, generally speaking, it is possible to copy the copy-protected contents of websites, though the method of copying may be difficult. Here are some suggestions:
(1) Many of copy-protected web pages use JavaScript to disable copying of their contents. So, if you disable JavaScript in your browser, it should become possible to copy their content like that from any other normal page. For more details, read the following articles:
- Disabling or enabling Javascript in Mozilla Firefox
- How to disable or enable Javascript in Internet Explorer
- How to disable or enable Javascript in Google Chrome
- How to copy text or images when right click disabled on website
Sometimes, it is possible even to convert the PDF file back into editable text using optical character recognition software or online OCR services. For more information, read, Convert scanned documents to text by free online OCR.
(3) Try to save the copy-protected web page as HTML file, and then from that HTML file, you can try to extract plain text and copy that. The HTML file can be saved using the Save As option available in most browsers. Alternatively, you can View Source of the web page, and then save the source as a text file.
(4) Use Print-Screen key on the keyboard to print the screen and then save it as an image. Alternatively, use any of the methods described in the articles below to take screenshots of the web page:
- Capture screenshots of whole/part page, annotate, edit it
- Capture full web page or screen & crop, edit images
- Free Multi-Clipboard and Screen Capture Utility
- Take screenshot of whole web page or of its visible part with FireShot
- Take fast snapshot of any screen area of a PDF file
- Microsoft ScreenRecorder to capture video of screen activities
(5) You can even try to use your digital camera, or your mobile phone camera, to take picture of the web page.
Usually, these methods should help you to copy text from a copy-protected web page or to save its contents for your genuine purposes. However, please respect the copyright of the contents, and use the copied contents only for the permissible genuine purposes.
