Protected PDF Document – A Protected Document provides both the reader and the publisher with maximum security and helps guard against unauthorized users. A Protected Document is delivered as a PDF file “wrapped” in a registration file (DRM – Digital Rights Management file) that only allows the user to review and print the PDF from the machine to which it was originally downloaded. Certainly the best value and the lowest price, Protected Documents are recommended for librarians and others for whom security and copyright control is important.

Internal Document – An Internal Document is branded with the name of the original licensed customer to discourage unauthorized users from sharing the document outside the user's organization. The PDF is no longer restricted to one machine, but can be circulated to others in the same company or department. An Internal Document also can be printed for hard copy distribution internally but is not authorized for outside distribution nor posting on the internet. Users will not be able to cut-and-paste text or images from one document to another.

Open Document – An Open Document is a fully functional PDF that can be circulated (a digital copy or hard-copy printed documents) outside the purchasing organization. Purchase of an Open Document does NOT constitute license for republication in any form, nor does it allow web posting without prior written permission from AAPG/Datapages ([email protected]).