DRM (Digital Rights Management)

DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a collection of technical controls that limit how purchased or licensed digital content can be used. It typically encrypts the content and releases the decryption key only to approved players, devices, or accounts.

Why it matters

Streaming services, e-book stores, games, and software vendors use DRM to enforce license terms such as limited devices, rental periods, or offline viewing. For users it can mean a file that will not play on an unsupported device, or content that stops working when a service closes. For site owners, embedding protected video means relying on a supported player and license server.

Example

Video file (encrypted, MP4 segments)
   + license request from player  ->  license server
   + license (key) returned if account and device are allowed
   = playback in the browser or app

If the subscription ends or the device limit is reached, the license server refuses the key and the encrypted video cannot be played.

Common misconceptions

DRM is not the same as copyright. Copyright is a legal right, while DRM is a technical measure that tries to enforce it.
DRM does not stop all copying; it makes casual copying harder and can be bypassed, which may itself be illegal in some countries.
A watermark is not DRM. It marks content to trace its source but does not block playback.

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