Prevent Copying of Text on a Site/Page

I have a website where we have a lot of original content, including a directory where someone has done a lot of work to collect a list of links. He's concerned about someone else copying the list and using it themselves.

I know that I could create a graphic image out of the text and then at the very least, someone would have to hand type (or OCR) to recover all the information.

Is there a better way to prevent someone from just being able to copy and paste off your webpage?

Thanks,
Beth

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ADDED: Never mind. I just found the ultimate, 1 year long discussion of the same topic on another discussion forum. It was discussed to DEATH!!

I feel for you. Plagurism is something that the internet/computers seem to have further popularised due to the copy and paste function. Many "specialist" websites nowadays have galleries full of other peoples images, link listings based on other peoples lists and information directly copied from someone who went to the trouble to write it. Although there is no bulletproof way to combat it, its a shame that one should even be nescessary.

I feel for you. Plagurism is something that the internet/computers seem to have further popularised due to the copy and paste function. Many "specialist" websites nowadays have galleries full of other peoples images, link listings based on other peoples lists and information directly copied from someone who went to the trouble to write it. Although there is no bulletproof way to combat it, its a shame that one should even be nescessary.

LMAO

I almost deleted the 2nd post, thinking it was a repeat of the first by the same user (happens on accident occassionally)... then I saw the dif user name. Good one, Glitch.

You can put the text in an image file (.jpg or .gif) and then display it as an image. This isn't really recommended, as it takes up a lot of space and slows page loads.

Although someone could still cut-and-paste the image, you could always watermark it so you could nail them if you catch them.

hehe

I was hoping that someone would get the joke and not take offense.