GcoreGlobal Network

One of the biggest challenges facing the media and entertainment industry is digital piracy, where stolen content is redistributed without authorization. This issue causes significant revenue and reputational losses for media companies. Consumers who use these unregulated services also face potential threats from malware and other security risks.Governments, regulatory bodies, and private organizations are increasingly taking the ramifications of digital piracy seriously. In the US, new legislation has been proposed that would significantly crack down on this type of activity, while in Europe, cloud providers are being held liable by the courts for enabling piracy. Interpol and authorities in South Korea have also teamed up to stop piracy in its tracks.In the meantime, you can use technology to help stop digital piracy and safeguard your company’s assets. This article explains anti-piracy technology tools that can help content providers, streaming services, and website owners safeguard their proprietary media: geo-blocking, digital rights management (DRM), secure tokens, and referrer validation.Geo-blockingGeo-blocking (or country access policy) restricts access to content based on a user’s geographic location, preventing unauthorized access and limiting content distribution to specific regions. It involves setting rules to allow or deny access based on the user’s IP address and location in order to comply with regional laws or licensing agreements.Pros:Controls access by region so that content is only available in authorized marketsHelps comply with licensing agreementsCons:Can be bypassed with VPNs or proxiesRequires additional security measures to be fully effectiveTypical use cases: Geo-blocking is used by streaming platforms to restrict access to content, such as sports events or film premieres, based on location and licensing agreements. It’s also helpful for blocking services in high-risk areas but should be used alongside other anti-piracy tools for better and more comprehensive protection.Referrer validationReferrer validation is a technique that checks where a content request is coming from and prevents unauthorized websites from directly linking to and using content. It works by checking the “referrer” header sent by the browser to determine the source of the request. If the referrer is from an unauthorized domain, the request is blocked or redirected. This allows only trusted sources to access your content.Pros:Protects bandwidth by preventing unauthorized access and misuse of resourcesGuarantees content is only accessed by trusted sources, preventing piracy or abuseCons:Can accidentally block legitimate requests if referrer headers are not correctly sentMay not work as intended if users access content via privacy-focused methods that strip referrer data, leading to false positivesTypical use cases: Content providers commonly use referrer validation to prevent unauthorized streaming or hotlinking, which involves linking to media from another website or server without the owner’s permission. It’s especially useful for streamers who want to make sure their content is only accessed through their official platforms. However, it should be combined with other security measures for more substantial protection.Secure tokensSecure tokens and protected temporary links provide enhanced security by granting temporary access to specific resources so only authorized users can access sensitive content. Secure tokens are unique identifiers that, when linked to a user’s account, allow them to access protected resources for a limited time. Protected temporary links further restrict access by setting expiration dates, meaning the link becomes invalid after a set time.Pros:Provides a high level of security by allowing only authorized users to access contentTokens are time-sensitive, which prevents unauthorized access after they expireHarder to circumvent compared to traditional password protection methodsCons:Risk of token theft if they’re not managed or stored securelyRequires ongoing management and rotation of tokens, adding complexityCan be challenging to implement properly, especially in high-traffic environmentsTypical use cases: Streaming platforms use secure tokens and protected temporary links so only authenticated users can access premium content, like movies or live streams. They are also useful for secure file downloads or limiting access to exclusive resources, making them effective for protecting digital content and preventing unauthorized sharing or piracy.Digital rights managementDigital rights management (DRM) refers to a set of technologies designed to protect digital content from unauthorized use so that only authorized users can access, copy, or share it, according to licensing agreements. DRM uses encryption, licensing, and authentication mechanisms to control access to digital resources so that only authorized users can view or interact with the content. While DRM offers strong protection against piracy, it comes with higher complexity and setup costs than other security methods.Pros:Robust protection against unauthorized copying, sharing, and piracyHelps safeguard intellectual property and revenue streamsEnforces compliance with licensing agreementsCons:Can be complex and expensive to implementMay cause inconvenience for users, such as limiting playback on unauthorized devices or restricting sharingPotential system vulnerabilities or compatibility issuesTypical use cases: DRM is commonly used by streaming services to protect movies, TV shows, and music from piracy. It can also be used for e-books, software, and video games, ensuring that content is only used by licensed users according to the terms of the agreement. DRM solutions can vary, from software-based solutions for media files to hardware-based or cloud-based DRM for more secure distribution.Protect your content from digital piracy with GcoreDigital piracy remains a significant challenge for the media and entertainment industry as it poses risks in terms of both revenue and security. To combat this, partnering with a cloud provider that can actively monitor and protect your digital assets through advanced multi-layer security measures is essential.At Gcore, our CDN and streaming solutions give rights holders peace of mind that their assets are protected, offering the features mentioned in this article and many more besides. We also offer advanced cybersecurity tools, including WAAP (web application and API protection) and DDoS protection, which further integrate with and enhance these security measures. We provide trial limitations for streamers to curb piracy attempts and respond swiftly to takedown requests from rights holders and authorities, so you can rest assured that your assets are in safe hands.Get in touch to learn more about combatting digital piracy

At Gcore, we’re committed to continuous innovation in video streaming. This month, we’re introducing significant advancements in low-latency streaming, AI-driven enhancements, and infrastructure upgrades, helping you deliver seamless, high-quality content at scale.Game-changing low-latency streamingOur latest low-latency live streaming solutions are now fully available in production, delivering real-time engagement with unmatched precision:WebRTC to HLS/DASH: Now in production, enabling real-time transcoding and delivery for WebRTC streams using HTTP-based LL-HLS and LL-DASH.LL-DASH with two-second latency: Optimized for ultra-fast content delivery via our global CDN, enabling minimal delay for seamless streaming.LL-HLS with three-second latency: Designed to deliver an uninterrupted and near-real-time live streaming experience.Gcore’s live streaming dashboard with OBS Studio integration, enabling real-time transcoding and delivery with low-latency HLS/DASHWhat this means for youWith glass-to-glass latency as low as 2–3 seconds, these advancements unlock new possibilities for real-time engagement. Whether you’re hosting live auctions, powering interactive gaming experiences, or enabling seamless live shopping, Gcore Video Streaming’s low-latency options keep your viewers connected without delay.Our solution integrates effortlessly with hls.js, dash.js, native Safari support, and our HTML web player, guaranteeing smooth playback across devices. Backed by our global CDN infrastructure, you can count on reliable, high-performance streaming at scale, no matter where your audience is.Exciting enhancements: AI and live streaming featuresWe’re making live streaming smarter with cutting-edge AI capabilities:Live stream recording with overlays: Record live streams while adding dynamic overlays such as webcam pop-ups, chat, alerts, advertisement banners, and time or weather widgets. This feature allows you to create professional, branded content without post-production delays. Whether you’re broadcasting events, tutorials, or live commerce streams, overlays help maintain a polished and engaging viewer experience.AI-powered VOD subtitles: Advanced AI automatically generates and translates subtitles into more than 100 languages, helping you expand your content’s reach to global audiences. This ensures accessibility while improving engagement across different regions.Deliver seamless live experiences with GcoreOur commitment to innovation continues, bringing advancements to enhance performance, efficiency, and streaming quality. Stay tuned for even lower latency and more AI-driven enhancements coming soon!Gcore Video Streaming empowers you to deliver seamless live experiences for auctions, gaming, live shopping, and other real-time applications. Get reliable, high-performance content delivery—whether you’re scaling to reach global audiences or delivering unique experiences to niche communities.Try Gcore Video Streaming today

At Gcore, we’re dedicated to delivering top-tier performance and reliability. To further enhance performance for all our customers, we recently made a significant change: we moved our CDN free-tier customers to a separate, physically isolated infrastructure. By isolating free-tier traffic, customers on paid plans receive uninterrupted, premium-grade service, while free users benefit from an environment tailored to their needs.Why we’ve separated free and paid plan infrastructureThis optimization has been driven by three key factors: performance, stability and scalability, and improved reporting.Providing optimal performanceFree-tier users are essential to our ecosystem, helping to stress-test our systems and extend our reach. However, their traffic can be unpredictable. By isolating free traffic, we provide premium customers with consistently high performance, minimizing disruption risks.Enhancing stability and scalabilityWith separate infrastructures, we can better manage traffic spikes and load balancing without impacting premium services. This improves overall platform stability and scalability, guaranteeing that both customer groups will enjoy a reliable experience.Improving reporting and performance insightsAlongside infrastructure enhancements, we’ve upgraded our reports page to offer clearer visibility into traffic and performance:New 95th percentile bandwidth graph: Helps users analyze traffic patterns more effectively.Improved aggregated bandwidth view: Makes it easier to assess usage trends at a glance.These tools empower you to make more informed decisions with accurate and accessible data.95th percentile bandwidth usage over the last three months, highlighting a significant increase in January 2025Strengthening content delivery with query string forwardingWe’ve also introduced a standardized query string forwarding feature to boost content delivery stability. By replacing our previous custom approach, we achieved the following:Increased stability: Reducing the risk of disruptionsLower maintenance requirements: Freeing up engineering resourcesSmoother content delivery: Enhancing experiences for streaming and content-heavy applicationsQuery string forwarding settings allow seamless parameter transfer for media deliveryWhat this means for our customersFor customers on paid plans: You can expect a more stable, high-performance service without the disruptions caused by fluctuating free-tier activity. Enhanced reporting and streamlined content delivery also empower you to make better, data-driven decisions.For free-tier customers: You will continue to have access to our services on a dedicated infrastructure that has been specifically optimized for your needs. This setup allows us to innovate and improve performance without compromising service quality.Strengthening Gcore CDN for long-term growthAt Gcore, we continuously refine our CDN to enable top-tier performance, reliability, and scalability. The recent separation of free-tier traffic, improved reporting capabilities, and optimized content delivery are key to strengthening our infrastructure. These updates enhance service quality for all users, minimizing disruptions and improving traffic management.We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of CDN efficiency, delivering faster load times, robust security, and seamless scalability. Stay tuned for more enhancements as we continue evolving our platform to meet the growing demands of businesses worldwide.Explore Gcore CDN