CDSA

In a rapidly evolving entertainment landscape, the film industry has shifted its gaze from traditional theatrical releases and physical discs to streaming-first distribution. With this transformation comes a new set of challenges and opportunities, particularly in the realm of content protection and piracy prevention.

Streaming services, while convenient and accessible to legitimate viewers, have become a hotbed for piracy. Digital distribution makes it remarkably easier for pirates to obtain and share copyrighted content. Unlike physical discs, digital copies can be effortlessly duplicated and disseminated at lightning-speed across the vast expanse of the internet.

Popular DRM systems utilized by content creators are often breached as the hackers get access to the keys and location of the video, enabling a direct download of in-the-clear content. This bears ominous parallel to CSS on DVD, whereby the keys are accessed, and content can be decrypted. Even though streaming offers the opportunity of changing the encryption keys multiple times, unlike pressed media, it does still pose the issue of an in-the -clear copy being freely shared.

In response to this challenge, Fortium is continuing to support content creators utilizing their decades-long experience of defeating ripping programs, and protecting the content prior to general release, while the content is still being worked on.

“To safeguard the content of the streaming platforms and film studios, we’ve adopted an all-hands-on-deck approach and have added services to our renowned product platform, such as Stream Protect. We have also added integrations with global companies to provide forensic watermarking and file transfer systems. By integrating a variety of services into one platform, clients can benefit from a multi-faceted approach to security, extending the chain of custody, and ensuring that their content remains protected in the face of ever-evolving piracy techniques, in a way that doesn’t alter workflows” said Iain Benson, Director at Fortium Technologies.

The film industry is no stranger to the approaching annual pressures of “screener season” when movies and TV shows are distributed to awards voters and reviewers. Unfortunately, this period has become a prime hunting ground for pirates. Interestingly, the majority of leaks during screener season are now traced back to streamed delivery. Evidence of this shift in piracy tactics can be found in the “bragging lists” published on Reddit by hackers. These lists, showcasing their ill-gotten gains, serve as a stark reminder of the challenges that content creators and streaming platforms face in the battle against piracy.

As film studios increasingly embrace streaming-first releases, the landscape of content protection and piracy prevention continues to evolve. Pirates have shifted their focus to this digital frontier, presenting a formidable challenge to the industry. However, with the adoption of technologies like Stream Protect and the collaborative efforts of integrations and global services, the fight to protect intellectual property in the age of streaming presses on.

By Joanna Pontin, EVP, Communications, Fortium