Lester_Masterson

Got a real stumper here folks.

Is there any way to distribute a WMV (or similar), so that it can be viewed, but not edited? By edited, I mean inserted into Premiere/AfterEffects/etc. and disected.

I am hoping that I don't have to author a DVD for every animation I create, and hosting the videos from a server and using DRM is not an option.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thx

Jeff Mottle

Hmm, all of the VisMasters stuff is both streamed and DRMed for protection. To my knowledge there is no way to protect WMV any other way. I found this link below, but don't think it's quite what you are after.

http://www.softwaretrials.com/avi-wmv-mpeg/index.html

The other option is to encode the video with a codec that does not allow editing. One such codec is the one used by GoToMeeting. Unfourtunately, there is no way to record video with this codec as it's meant for screen casts and only records at 15 fps. It also requires that you have an account with Citrix GoToMeeting. I don't know if any other codecs like this exist.

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Jeff Mottle
CGarchitect.com

crazy homeless guy

Though not secured, WMV is definitely one of the more difficult formats to reverse engineer. At least this was the case a couple of years ago. You had to jump through extra hoops and typically download freeware to convert it to a format an app like Premiere would read.

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travis schmiesing

Lester_Masterson

Thanks Jeff and Travis.

After doing more research myself, it appears that you can provide a separate DRM license file to view the WMV videos. However, Microsoft does not post prices (boo!) and you need to register to get a 60 day evaluation license.

What strikes me as odd is that, in order to protect our own work, we need to pay a third party (in this case MS).

I think we should go back to distributing on 8mm or 16mm film, and let them figure out how to edit that

Cheers.

Jeff Mottle

EZDRM is the one we use at VisMasters (while not the best solution out there, it works) http://www.ezdrm.com/ It's cheap and pretty easy to implement. Just so you understand their role. They provide you a tool to take existing WMV files and package them with a DRM license. When someone tries to view the video it sends a request to EZDRM's servers to see if the license on your system matches the key. If it does not then it throws a no license warning. If it does match then the video is allowed to play based on the licensing variables you set (See below). Unless your editing app can read DRM (and I don't know any that can) they will not be able to edit it. They may be able to capture the stream with something like Camtasia though. Not sure how secure you really need to get.

As an aside, packging a WMV file adds a little bit of space to the overall file size and takes about 10-15 seconds per file. To issue a license, it's as easy as creating a webpage with a link to the license that you used to package the WMV. Your client would just need to click the link and the license would get installed automatically. Be aware that we have run into issues where certain firewalls and system security settings can prevent this license file from being written. Sometimes without any workaround that we know of. These are rare though.

The following are the variables that can be set for a given WMV file license:

ProfileId
This is your member specific ID that you get during registration and need to enter into the code in order for everything to work properly. Make sure not to omit any of the curly brackets: "{" and "}". They are part of the ProfileID.

NumPlays This right specifies the number of times the consumer is allowed to play protected content.
The value can be any number. Enter "-1" to set an unlimited number of plays.


NumBurns This right allows consumers to copy a Windows Media file to a CD in the Red Book audio format. However, after a Windows Media file is copied to a CD, the Windows Media file is no longer protected.
The value can be any number. Enter "-1" to set an unlimited number of burns.


NumTransfers This right allows the consumer to transfer the Windows Media file to a device that does not support Portable Device DRM version 1 or Windows Media DRM 10 for Portable Devices. After transfer, DRM protection may be lost.
The value can be any number. Enter "-1" to set an unlimited number of transfers.


NumSdmiTransfers This right allows the consumer to transfer the Windows Media file to a device that supports Portable Device DRM version 1 or Windows Media DRM 10 for Portable Devices.
The value can be any number. Enter "-1" to set an unlimited number of transfers.


AllowBackup This right allows the consumer to manage licenses by making backup copies and restoring licenses from backups. Consumers can restore licenses to the same computer (such as when a consumer reformats a computer) or to different computers (such as a work computer and a home computer).
The values are "1" for Yes; "0" for No.


Expiration This right specifies a date, after which the license is no longer valid and the Windows Media file can no longer be played. For example, you can set a license to expire on December 31, 2007 at 7:45:27 pm.
The date format needs to be really specific. All dates must be surrounded by # characters:
February 12, 1999 is #19990212Z#
February 12, 1999 9:00 am is #19990212 09Z#
February 12, 1999 10:00 pm is #19990212 22Z#
February 12, 1999 9:45 am is #19990212 09:45Z#
February 12, 1999 9:45:12 am is #19990212 09:45:12Z#

This value is based on GMT time zone.


ExpirationAfterFirstUseThis right specifies the length of time (in hours) that a license is valid after the file is played for the first time. For example, you can set a license to expire 24 hours after a consumer begins to play the Windows Media file.
The value can be any number (in hours). Zero (0) is not a valid entry.


ExpirationOnStore This right specifies the length of time (in hours) a license is valid after the file is stored on the consumer's computer. For example, you can set a license to expire 72 hours after it is stored.
The value can be any number (in hours). Zero (0) is not a valid entry.


BeginDateThis right specifies a date after which the license is valid. Before this date, the Windows Media file cannot be played.
See Expiration (above) for date format examples.


DeleteOnRollback This right deletes the license from the users computer if the computer's clock is reset to an earlier time. Use this right only if the license also specifies an expiration date. This right is mutually exclusive with DisableOnRollback. You can only use one or the other.
The values are "1" for Yes; "0" for No.


DisableOnRollback This right disables a license if the consumer's computer clock is reset to an earlier time. The license is enabled again when the clock is corrected. Use this right only if the license also specifies an expiration date. This right is mutually exclusive with DeleteOnRollback. You can only use one or the other.
The values are "1" for Yes; "0" for No.


MinimumAppSecurity This right specifies the minimum security level that is required of an application that plays protected content on a computer or device.
When a consumer tries to play the Windows Media file, the minimum security level specified in the license is compared to the security level of the player application or device. The result determines whether the Windows Media file can be played.
When specifying a minimum security level for your Windows Media files, consider whether you want your Windows Media files to be available to a wide market (require a low security level) or whether you want to restrict playback of your Windows Media files to very secure players and devices (require a higher security level).
EZDRM sets a default security level to 500 if none is specified.
The following table shows examples of application security levels for different players and devices.
Security
Level

Players and
Portable Devices Examples150 Devices that do not support Windows Media DRM. DRM protection is removed when the content is transferred to such a device.

Devices that support Windows Media-based content, but not protected content.450 The first level of security intended to meet the needs of the SDMI specification; portable media must have a hardware serial number.

SDMI-compliant players and portable devices.1,000 Player applications based on Windows Media Format 9.5 SDK and earlier that do not meet additional requirements for level 2000. Devices based on Windows Media Portable Device DRM v1.
Devices based on Windows CE 4.2 and later.


Windows Media Player 6.4, Windows Media Player 7. Windows Media Player for Pocket PC or SmartPhone.
2,000 Player applications based on Windows Media Format 9 Series SDK or later, and that follow a stricter set of content protection guidelines than applications at level 1000. Devices based on Windows Media DRM 10 for Portable Devices.
Devices based on Windows Media DRM 10 for Network Devices.


Windows Media Player 9 Series and later. Portable media devices that support Windows Media DRM 10 for Portable Devices.
Windows Mobile-based Portable Media Centers.
AllowCollaborativePlayThis right allows consumers to play protected content in a collaborative session using peer-to-peer services. For example, users of MSN Messenger 2004 can play protected content in a MusicMix session. The consumer can only contribute the protected content to one group of listeners at a time, and all listeners must be online to play the content.
The values are "1" for Yes; "0" for No.


GracePeriodThis right specifies the number of hours during which protected content can be played after a device clock becomes unset. If the device supports grace periods and the clock becomes unset, the device makes a "best guess" at the current time by using the value of the last-known secure time. If the current time falls within this grace period, the device plays the content.
The value can be any number (in hours).

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Jeff Mottle
CGarchitect.com

Lester_Masterson

Thanks again Jeff. This is great information and we will definitely be looking into this option in the future.

At this time, we are not streaming videos, only delivering via CD/DVD/FTP Download.

On a side note, please extend my thanks to the VisMasters team for creating great products and training packages. They all have been extremely helpful.

Jeff Mottle

You don't have to stream the videos to use DRM. Just need to have internet access to get the license the first time.

You're welcome.

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Jeff Mottle
CGarchitect.com

manta

Ya..I'd have to say programs like Camtasia that can record something while its being played sort of defeats all protections...sorry but if someone wants it there is always a way...

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DESIGN FORWARD
http://www.mantastudios.com

Ky Lane

If its for a web broadcast, FLV with an associated player can be quite secure. Seems most trailers come out this way.

Jeff Mottle

That's mostly for cross platform support. FLV are just as susceptible to being ripped as any other format.

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Jeff Mottle
CGarchitect.com