(DRM) Digital rights management

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a technology that is used to control the distribution and usage of digital content and devices. It is intended to prevent unauthorized access, copying, or distribution of digital media, such as music, movies, e-books, and software. DRM systems typically use encryption, digital certificates, and other security measures to restrict the ways in which digital content can be used and shared.

DRM has been a controversial topic, as it often limits the rights of users to access and use the content they have purchased. Some users argue that DRM interferes with their ability to make legitimate use of digital content, such as making backup copies or transferring content to different devices. On the other hand, content creators and distributors use DRM to protect their intellectual property and to ensure that they receive proper compensation for their work.

In recent years, some content providers have moved away from using DRM, instead relying on other methods, such as digital watermarking and licensing, to protect their content and control its use.

Over-the-top (OTT) services, such as streaming platforms for video and music, typically use a combination of digital rights management (DRM) technologies to control the distribution and usage of their content. Some common types of DRM used by OTT services include:

• Widevine DRM: Widevine is a popular DRM technology developed by Google that is widely used by OTT services to protect their content. Widevine provides multiple levels of protection, ranging from low-security options for less sensitive content to high-security options for premium content.

• PlayReady DRM: PlayReady is a DRM technology developed by Microsoft that is used by OTT services to protect their content on a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.

• FairPlay DRM: FairPlay is a DRM technology developed by Apple and is used by OTT services to protect their content on Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs.

• Marlin DRM: Marlin is an open-source DRM technology that is used by some OTT services to protect their content. It is designed to work with a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, set-top boxes, and game consoles.

These are some of the most common DRM technologies used by OTT services, but the specific DRM technology used can vary depending on the content and the platforms it is being distributed on.