Excel Software’s Doc Protect 4 for Mac OS X (10.7 or later) allows an author to protect popular file types to ensure the docs are only viewable on licensed computers.

The latest version (4) can protect an EPUB file by embedding a reader and licensing process in the protected document. Other enhancements include improved PDF protection that supports the latest versions of Adobe Reader.

In addition to delivering a protected document as a Mac or Windows application, DocProtect 4 supports a new delivery vehicle, the SafeWebApp viewer. DocProtect can generate a protected file that’s activated for a specific device and viewed within SafeWebApp running on a variety of platforms.

DocProtect works independently or together with the QuickLicense protection and licensing system. It supports the new licensing features in QuickLicense 7 like the ability to extend a time-limited license with an Expiration Code, a custom pre-activation message, plus Trial, Product, Try/Buy, Subscription and Floating license types. DocProtect supports QuickLicense Server to enable a vendor to distribute a true floating license server with their protected applications that runs on a customer network without Internet access.

EPUB is an eBook standard designed for reflowable content. The runtime software in DocProtect 4 was enhanced to include an EPUB reader for Mac and Windows.

Popular video and audio file formats can be protected by DocProtect including .wmv, .mov, .avi, .mp4 and .f4v. The video plays within a simple, secure player window that does not allow the video to be shared or saved to other computers without an activated license. The user can start and stop the video, adjust the volume, move and resize the window using standard player controls. A Flash file (SWF) can also be converted to a protected application.

A collection of HTML files, scripts, CSS and images can be compiled into a protected Mac or Windows application with a custom icon. When running on the customer computer, a browser window with back and forward buttons allows link navigation to pages embedded within the application or external pages on the Internet. Source files and URLs are hidden from the user.

A PDF document can be protected with copy, export or save feature restriction while using the standard viewing capabilities in the current Adobe Reader with backward compatibility to version 8. With a Group license, when one protected application in the group is activated, all are activated for that computer.  A Group license can be applied to any documents including an HTML project.

SafeWebApp is free and runs on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android platforms. DocProtect 4 costs US$495 for a single user license on either Mac or Windows — or $795 for both platforms. It includes royalty-free runtime distribution rights for unlimited documents or licenses. Go to http://www.excelsoftware.com for more info.