Content Protection
With Content Protection, you can secure the delivery of content when using our player, direct streaming URLs, or download URLs.
This option is enabled by default and when you integrate our player, token generation for content protection is handled automatically. Only if you do not use our player - for example, when using progressive download or a third-party video player - you need to generate the access tokens yourself.
You can enable or disable this feature in Project Settings → Content Protection for the desired project. Once activated, all content delivered through our video player will automatically be protected by this mechanism.
Content Protection secures media delivery by signing and tokenizing every video chunk that is requested during playback or download. Each request is validated against a time-limited token before the chunk is delivered. If the token is missing, invalid, or expired, access to the requested video segment is denied. This prevents unauthorized access and sharing of direct streaming or download URLs.
Using a custom player with Content protection
Generate a token (PHP example)
// token.php
function generateToken() {
$expires = time() + 600; // Token validity: current time + 10 minutes
$_user_agent = ''; // User Agent (required).
$project_key = ''; // Your private project key (required).
$md5 = md5($expires . $project_key . $_user_agent, false);
return $md5 . '/' . $expires;
}Generate the streaming URL
Adding DRM
DRM protection can be used to protect premium or restricted video content against unauthorized playback and redistribution.
DRM stands for Digital Rights Management. It adds an additional security layer to the playback workflow by ensuring that protected content can only be played in supported players and environments after a valid license has been requested.
3Q currently supports the following DRM technologies:
Google Widevine
Apple FairPlay
Microsoft PlayReady
These DRM systems cover the most common playback environments, including modern desktop browsers, Android devices, iOS and iPadOS devices, Apple Safari, smart TVs, and other supported playback devices.
When to Use DRM
DRM protection is recommended for content that requires a higher level of access control than standard token protection or publication settings.
Typical use cases include:
Premium video content
Paid content
Licensed movies or series
Internal confidential videos
Partner-restricted content
Content with contractual protection requirements
Content that must not be downloadable or freely redistributed
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