On Mon, 8 Dec 2008, Jer wrote:

> I'm working on a website that will allow users to purchase the right
> to view videos on a per video basis. After they pay, they will get unlimited
views.
>
> However, I'm concerned about two issues:
>
> 1) Leeching or downloading the FLVs. Is this easy to restrict?
>
> 2) Users passing around the log-ins.
>
> For #2, I'd like to be able to use something like FairPlay to allow
> users to authorize devices (such as their desktop computers and mobile
> devices). Any of them not on the list, wouldn't be able to access the
> page on which the video is located.
>
> So, it's not necessarily restricting the access to the video file.
> It's more about restricting access to the PAGE itself.
>
> I'm thinking that making it difficult for users to download the FLVs
> and adding a feature like FairPlay, I'll be able to restrict pirating
> of these videos.
>
> (Disclaimer: I'm a designer and entrepreneur...not a developer. So,
> I'm investigating if this is possible. And how time-consuming it is to
> build)
>
> Thank you!
>

Hi Jeremy:

When you say, FairPlay, guess you are referring to DRM technology by Apple.

"FairPlay does not affect the ability of the file itself to be
copied. It only manages the decryption of the audio content"

You can intercept the decrypted output and write a raw AAC file.

Security by obscurity does not work. Page restricted access can
be and will be worked around.

The easiest way to segment your market may look like this:
. Apple custards (ie. customers) FairPlay + iWhatever
. Windows mustards (ie. customers) WMA DRM + spWhatever
. The rest (ie. users of VLC player)

Hope this helps see the revenue stream.

You may want to look at throttling/excerpt approach for
delivering free vs marginally free videos + revenue from Ads.


thanks
Saifi.