Is it possible?

[mattkirwan]

As a professional photographer, supplying images to clients is truly a nightmare.
With digital files, the moment you release your images with an agreed license and length of usage - you have truly lost all control of those images.
I've heard it is possible to receive viruses 'built in' to JPG files, my question - is it somehow possible to have some sort of countdown timer embedded into your image files? meaning when a date(of your choice) comes around - the image will somehow self destruct/delete itself/scramble?

This might seem an odd question, I am not a programmer (aside from basic php and the usual web stuff) - I just find it frustrating how we make licenses (usually one year for specific uses - website/brochure/advertising) - clients happily pay, then two years later they still use your images, not even phased that the hours you spend creating those images, is your living.

Regards,

Matt Kirwan

[G_Morgan]

You are talking about DRM. It is probably be possible with Vista but older systems certainly don't have such facilities.

Try to rig such facilities yourself is a dangerous practice as we saw with Sony and their rootkit business.