What is DRM protection?

``` DRM, or Digital Rights Management, is a technology used to prevent unauthorized use and distribution of digital content, ensuring that only permitted users can access it. It protects DRM protected videos from being copied or shared without authorization. ```

What is DRM licensing?

DRM, or Digital Rights Management, is a technology used to prevent unauthorized use and distribution of digital content, ensuring that only permitted users can access it. It protects DRM protected videos from being copied or shared without authorization.

What are the different types of DRM?

There are several types of DRM, including FairPlay DRM by Apple, Widevine DRM by Google, and Microsoft's PlayReady. Each is designed to work with specific platforms and devices, offering a range of protection levels for DRM video streaming and DRM video hosting.

What is the difference between L1 and L3 DRM?

The difference between L1 and L3 DRM relates to the level of security and where the content decryption occurs. L1 DRM provides the highest level of security, where content decryption and rendering happen within a secure environment on the device, ideal for HD and 4K content. L3 DRM, while still secure, allows decryption to occur in a less secure part of the device, typically used for lower-resolution content.

Does DRM use AES Encryption?

Yes, AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a common encryption method used in DRM systems. It scrambles the video data, making it unreadable without a decryption key. DRM uses AES alongside other mechanisms to control access and playback of the video content.

How to change DRM settings in Chrome?

While there isn't a direct on/off switch for Video DRM in Chrome, you can control how Chrome interacts with DRM-protected content. Here's how to adjust those settings: 1. Open Chrome and select "Settings" from the menu. 2. Scroll down and click on "Privacy and security." 3. Under "Privacy and security," click on "Site settings." 4. In the list of site settings options, find and click on "Additional content settings." 5. Look for "Protected content" and click on it. 6. Under "Protected content IDs," you will see the option "Default behavior." Here, you can choose how Chrome handles identifiers used for DRM-protected content.

How do I add DRM to my video?

Adding DRM protection to your videos requires a more technical approach than a simple setting change. Here are your options: - Use a DRM video hosting platform: These platforms handle the encryption, key management, and DRM-enabled video player for you. They are a good option if you lack technical expertise. Gumlet offers one-click DRM implementation. - Partner with a DRM provider: These companies offer tools and services to integrate DRM into your existing workflow. This requires more technical knowledge but offers more control.

What is video tokenization in DRM?

Video tokenization is the process of issuing short-lived, signed tokens that authenticate a user's right to request a DRM license. Tokens are tied to a specific user session and expire after a set time, preventing license sharing or replay attacks. It's a critical layer in any secure DRM video streaming setup.

Multi-DRM is the practice of simultaneously supporting multiple DRM systems, typically Widevine, FairPlay, and PlayReady, from a single video workflow. Since no single DRM works across all devices and browsers, Multi-DRM is the industry standard for platforms that need DRM video streaming to work universally. Gumlet's Multi-DRM setup handles this automatically with no additional configuration.

What are DASH and HLS in DRM video streaming?

DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) and HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) are the two primary protocols used for DRM video streaming. DASH is used with Widevine and PlayReady on Android and desktop browsers, while HLS is used with FairPlay on Apple devices. A Multi-DRM video hosting platform like Gumlet handles both protocols automatically, ensuring smooth playback across all devices.

What is the playback policy in DRM?

A playback policy defines the rules attached to a DRM license, such as how long a user can watch, how many devices they can use, whether offline viewing is allowed, and the minimum security level required for playback. Playback policies give content owners granular control over how their DRM-protected videos are consumed.

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150 Million+

DOWNLOADER INSTALLS BLOCKED

1,000+

BUSINESSES & CREATORS PROTECTED

35%

INCREASE IN COURSE COMPLETION

Streaming secure videos for

What is DRM (Digital Rights Management)?

DRM locks your video to an authorized license. Without DRM video protection, anyone with a link can redistribute it freely. Gumlet uses Google Widevine and Apple FairPlay, the same standards trusted by Netflix and Disney+.

DRM helps to protect your videos against:

Unauthorized downloads and redistribution
Screen recording on Android and iOS devices
Link sharing to non-paying users
Piracy on rooted or jailbroken devices

How does Video DRM work?

Video DRM technology protects your video content by applying encryption and decryption techniques and restricting playback on unauthorized devices and users.

Why DRM protection matters for your online videos

Restrict Screen Recording

Prevent Screen Recording on Android & iOS devices. With DRM Encryption, ensure your video content isn't captured & shared illegally, even through rooted devices.

Protect Intellectual Property

Your videos are your creation. DRM technology acts like a digital vault, protecting your videos from unauthorized redistribution. This ensures your work remains original and retains its value.

Guard Revenue Streams

Guard your revenue streams by ensuring only your paying viewers can access your videos. Stop illegal copying & video distribution with our DRM protection.

Prevent Video Piracy

DRM technology significantly discourages pirates and prevents your videos from being illegally shared online.

When you need DRM, and when signed URLs are enough

DRM is the right choice when the video itself is the product and a leaked file causes direct revenue loss. Paid courses, premium OTT libraries, licensed media and pre-release screeners all fall into that category, because DRM keeps the file encrypted on the viewer's device and blocks screen recording on Android and iOS.

Signed URLs and domain restrictions solve a different problem. They control who can request a video, but once the stream reaches the device the file is playable. That is usually enough for internal training, gated marketing videos and product demos, where casual link sharing is the real risk and full encryption adds cost you do not need.

If you are protecting content that people pay to access, use DRM. If you are protecting content that people simply should not stumble across, access control on its own is normally the better trade. Gumlet supports both on the same account, so you can apply DRM to your paid library and signed URLs to everything else.

Multi-DRM via Google Widevine and Apple FairPlay

APPLE DEVICES

Fairplay DRM

Apple's native DRM video protection for iOS and Safari. FairPlay encrypts your content end-to-end, preventing unauthorized playback, downloads, and screen recording on every Apple device.

ANDROID, CHROME & EDGE

Widevine DRM

Google's industry-standard DRM video streaming technology for Android, Chrome, and Edge. Widevine L1 encryption ensures your content can't be downloaded, copied, or screen-recorded by unauthorized users. Widevine operates at three security levels. Gumlet requests the highest level a device supports, so HD and 4K playback runs on hardware-backed L1 where available and falls back to L3 on devices without a secure video path.

Know your DRM

Which DRM system runs depends on the viewer's device and browser. Gumlet selects it automatically at playback, so you do not configure anything per platform.

Feature	Compare1 tier	compare2 tier
iPhone, iPad, Mac Safari	Apple FairPlay	Native, via HLS
Android phones and tablets	Google Widevine	Native, via DASH
Chrome, Edge, Firefox on desktop	Google Widevine	Native, via DASH
Android TV and Chromecast	Google Widevine	Native, via DASH
Smart TVs and consoles using PlayReady	Confirm with Gumlet engineering whether PlayReady is supported	If it is not supported, state the gap in this row rather than deleting the row

Compare1

iPhone, iPad, Mac Safari: Apple FairPlay
Android phones and tablets: Google Widevine
Chrome, Edge, Firefox on desktop: Google Widevine
Android TV and Chromecast: Google Widevine
Smart TVs and consoles using PlayReady: Confirm with Gumlet engineering whether PlayReady is supported

compare2

iPhone, iPad, Mac Safari: Native, via HLS
Android phones and tablets: Native, via DASH
Chrome, Edge, Firefox on desktop: Native, via DASH
Android TV and Chromecast: Native, via DASH
Smart TVs and consoles using PlayReady: If it is not supported, state the gap in this row rather than deleting the row

Multi-layered video protection

Dynamic watermarking

Embeds unique identifiers within videos, deterring screen recording and aiding content tracking.

Signed URLs and allowed referrers

Restricts video playback to authorized websites or apps, preventing unauthorized embedding.

Password protected Video

Restricts access with an extra layer of security, requiring a password for users to view your videos.

Geo-blocking

Limits video playback to specific geographical locations, ensuring content reaches the intended audience.

DRM video hosting, not a separate DRM contract

Gumlet delivers DRM as part of video hosting, so you do not need to contract a standalone DRM vendor alongside your video platform. Uploading a video and switching DRM on covers encryption, key management, multi-DRM packaging, license delivery and playback in one workflow.

The distinction matters when you are comparing costs. A standalone DRM service charges per license request and leaves you to run packaging, storage, delivery and a compatible player yourself. Those four pieces rarely appear on a DRM vendor's pricing page, but they are where most of the real spend sits.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Clear answers to common questions, so you can get back to hosting your videos.

Explore Pricing

DRM is available as an add-on to Gumlet video hosting, so you pay for hosting, delivery and DRM on one bill instead of contracting a separate DRM vendor. See current plan pricing, or read our breakdown of what video DRM costs across the three common pricing models.

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iPhone, iPad, Mac Safari

Apple FairPlay

Native, via HLS

Android phones and tablets

Google Widevine

Native, via DASH

Chrome, Edge, Firefox on desktop

Google Widevine

Native, via DASH

Android TV and Chromecast

Google Widevine

Native, via DASH

Smart TVs and consoles using PlayReady

Confirm with Gumlet engineering whether PlayReady is supported

If it is not supported, state the gap in this row rather than deleting the row

No-Code Video DRM with Widevine & FairPlay

Streaming secure videos for

What is DRM (Digital Rights Management)?

DRM locks your video to an authorized license. Without DRM video protection, anyone with a link can redistribute it freely. Gumlet uses Google Widevine and Apple FairPlay, the same standards trusted by Netflix and Disney+.

How does Video DRM work?