Digital Rights Management (DRM) for my videos

This feature is available as an add-on with the Enterprise plan.

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a technology that helps protect your videos from unauthorized copying, sharing, and misuse. It helps ensure that only authorized viewers can access your content while enforcing rules on how it can be used.  

In this article:

• How does DRM work?
• How can I enable DRM?
• DRM video playback restrictions
• Browser and device compatibility
• How can I update old embed codes for DRM?
• Next steps

How does DRM work?  

DRM works by encrypting your video content with a special key. Only users with the correct license can decrypt and play the video. This license also sets restrictions on how the video can be used, such as:  

• Prevents sharing: DRM ensures that viewers cannot share your videos.  
• Controlling Usage: Actions like screen recording and taking screenshots can be restricted. 

How can I enable DRM? 

You can enable DRM protection via a toggle under Privacy in your Team Settings.   

• DRM technology: To protect your videos, we use industry-standard DRM technologies like Google Widevine, Microsoft PlayReady, and Apple FairPlay.
• Enabling DRM at the Team Level: You can turn on DRM for your account in your Team Settings: https://vimeo.com/manage/team/settings. When this setting is toggled on, it will override all the existing clip settings you have and turn DRM on for all of your videos. Additionally, the default for new videos will be DRM enabled. When this setting is toggled off, it will override all the existing clip settings you have and turn DRM off for all of your existing videos. Additionally, the default for new videos will be DRM turned off.
• Enabling DRM at the video level: You can turn DRM on and off on the video settings page. This setting will default to whatever your team's DRM setting is. This setting will never affect your team's DRM setting
  
• HLS and DASH downloads are disabled: Please note that you cannot download Play files when DRM is active.
• Text tracks are not encrypted: Text tracks, transcripts, and thumbnails will not be encrypted by DRM. This is something the team is investigating and 
• If on Edge or Chrome and Permissions-Policy is set on the page, then old embed codes will need to be updated to include encrypted-media as a value in the allow attribute list.

DRM video playback restrictions

Playback restrictions are as follows:

• Download restrictions: Viewers will not be able to download DRM-protected videos.  
• Screen recording prevention: DRM helps prevent screen recording on supported devices and browsers.  
• 360-degree playback is not supported.

Browser and device compatibility  

• Latest Browsers Recommended: For the best playback experience, viewers should use the latest version of their web browser. Older browsers may experience playback issues.  
• Startup Time: DRM may have a slight impact on video startup time due to encryption and licensing verification.  
• Third-Party Players: DRM-protected videos will not work on third-party players.  
• Mobile Apps: DRM playback is supported on ZenVideo’s native iOS and Android apps.  

How can I update old embed codes for DRM?

If you are using Edge or Chrome and your page has a Permissions-Policy set, old embed codes may need to be updated. Ensure that encrypted-media is included in the allow attribute list of the embed code for proper DRM functionality.  

By enabling DRM for your videos, you ensure that your content remains secure, is only accessible by authorized viewers, and cannot be easily shared or misused.

Next steps

Learn more about troubleshooting video playback and DRM issues on Chrome.