Protect flash video from download/right protect

Question

Is it possible to protect flv files from download? I\'d like to protect my files from download but I don\'t have the money for a streaming server which I think provides some

Answer 1

The short version is that DRM (in any form) is an arms race, If I can play it, I can steal it. The only question is how hard is it.

Personally, I don't think DRM is a good idea. In the long run, it's not going to help because people who steal it, will steal it no mater what you do and those who don't will be inconvenienced by it even so.

http://xkcd.com/488/

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That said, stealing it is also not a good idea and you should have the right to control what you produce. (However I don't know how to do that)

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The only answers I can think of for this are: 1) start selling something that can't be stolen or 1) make it easier to buy then steal. The first amounts to Pandora-for-fee/Netflix-for-music (but with something like a CC license on major label songs). The second isn't even a music industry problem but a financial industry problem; how to make online payments easy and safe for both side without screwing over either the buyer or the seller.

Answer 2

No protection can beat a simple use of WireShark + NetMiner.

Period.

Oh and by the way, about youtube, if you use Chrome check out this extension:

http://hosting.gmodules.com/ig/gadgets/file/113621719436589749332/ZiTube.crx

It just creates a download button under youtube videos ;)

Answer 3

There is no way to add DRM protection (i.e. encryption) to static FLV files - anyone who knows the URL can simply download them, or (in some cases) get them out of their browser's cache, and then play them in any supporting player. (However, you can probably prevent people from embedding your content in other sites - google "Hotlinking protection".)

Streaming your FLVs can be done for free with OSS like Red 5. This doesn't offer "DRM" protection per se, but it does send the video in a file stream, so there is no single file for the user to download and save. It's still possible for the user to capture the file with certain programs, but it's much more inconvenient.

As for "real" DRM, the only solution I'm aware of is Adobe Flash Media Rights Management Server. I've never used it, but apparently it will stream DRM-encrypted FLV or MP3 content, and enable you to apply the usual sorts of DRM restrictions.