What exactly is meant by the term “Widevine DRM,” and how does its protection system work?

In order to stop the unauthorised use of content as well as the leakage of content, many online content providers are currently utilising a multi-DRM solution that is given by professional DRM suppliers. This is done in order to protect their customers’ intellectual property rights. A multi-DRM solution covers all of the major online browsers and mobile operating systems, and it also provides licence management tools for several digital rights management systems (DRMs), such as PlayReady, Widevine, and FairPlay.

In this part of the series, we are going to explore each Digital Rights Management system (DRM) and the components of multi-DRM technology that are linked with it in the sequence that is specified below.

We will begin by discussing the digital rights management system (DRM) that Microsoft PlayReady employs.

Part 2:  Google Widevine DRM (this article)

Digital Rights Management (DRM) for Apple’s FairPlay is included in Part 3.

Part 4: DRM packaging and CPIX/SPEKE API

Part 5: Multi-DRM client standards

What exactly does “Widevine DRM” mean when it’s referred to in text?

Widevine DRMan anti-piracy tool is Google’s patented content protection system for premium media. Its primary function is to prevent unauthorised copying of protected media. All of the most important online content distribution platforms in the world, including Google Play, YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and a great number of others, employ Widevine.

Widevine is an integral component of web browsers like Chrome and Firefox, as well as smartphones running Android OS and a wide variety of other over-the-top (OTT) devices.

The humble origins of Widevine

In order to act as an alternative for systems that rely on smartcards to secure digital content, Widevine DRM was developed by Widevine Technologies. This was done so that Widevine DRM could secure digital content. Since Google’s purchase of Widevine Technologies in 2010, the company’s Widevine technology has been included into a variety of Google’s products and services, such as Chrome, Android Mobile, and Android TV. (Ref. #2)

Widevine versions

Widevine Classic (v1–v6): Widevine Classic was supported with older versions of Android (3.1–5.1) and older smart TVs. Widevine Classic was available in versions 1–6. The download for Widevine Classic was accessible from this location. As a result of Google ceasing support for it, it is no longer compatible with any newly released services or devices. [Cause and effect] The. Widevine Classic uses the WVM file format, which is a proprietary variety of file format. This format is the one that is used by Widevine Classic.

The most recent version of Widevine DRM is referred to as Widevine Modular, and it is currently being developed with new needs and features. Widevine Modular provides support for adaptive streaming formats such as DASH and HLS, in addition to the HTML5 standards EME and MSE. The Widevine Modular implementation is now commonly supposed to be referred to just by the term “Widevine.”

The implementation of multiple digital rights management systems is the cornerstone of content security and the most effective deterrent against screen recording. This is because DRM prevents users from recording their screens. When recording a video that is secured by Digital Rights Management (DRM) on a personal computer, mobile device, or television using recording equipment such as a camcorder or smartphone camera.

When digital rights management is provided by the client platform, as shown in the following scenario, recording can be reliably stopped without the need for a separate solution, which eliminates the requirement for the scenario to be described below.