01 Growing Use of Multi-DRM Across Streaming Platforms As people watch movies, sports, and other premium content across smartphones, smart TVs, tablets, laptops, and streaming devices, content providers need security that works smoothly across different platforms. This is driving the adoption of multi-DRM solutions, which allow companies to manage encryption, licenses, user access, and playback permissions through a single system. Some commercial DRM platforms now process more than 15 billion transactions every month and support over 250 million active devices, showing the scale at which digital content needs to be protected. In July 2026, the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) released an updated A/362 Digital Rights Management recommended practice for ATSC 3.0. The update provides clearer industry practices for protecting television and interactive digital content as broadcasting becomes increasingly connected and internet-based. The development shows how DRM is becoming a core part of delivering premium content securely across multiple screens and services.
02 Rising Need to Control Digital Piracy Online piracy remains a major concern as copyrighted movies, television programs, sports, and other premium content can be copied and redistributed within minutes. As a result, content owners are combining DRM, watermarking, access controls, piracy monitoring, and enforcement tools to protect their content and revenue. In August 2026, India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting reported that anti-piracy action had disabled 7,393 URLs, including 4,996 Telegram channels and 1,263 websites involved in unauthorized content distribution. The scale of these actions highlights why media companies are placing greater importance on practical, stronger, and more flexible digital content protection.
01 Growing Need to Protect Digital Content from Piracy The rapid growth of streaming services, online gaming, live sports, e-books, and other digital content has also created more opportunities for piracy. Movies, sports broadcasts, games, and premium videos can now be copied and shared through websites, social media, messaging applications, and illegal streaming services within minutes of release. This is pushing content owners to strengthen encryption, control user access, and monitor unauthorized distribution, supporting digital rights management market growth.As companies put more premium content online, the need to protect subscriptions and intellectual property is expected to strengthen digital rights management market demand.
01 Gaps in Digital Skills and Connectivity DRM works best in a well-developed digital environment where consumers have reliable internet connections, compatible devices, and enough digital knowledge to use online services comfortably. However, these conditions are not equally available everywhere. Poor connectivity and limited digital skills can reduce the use of streaming platforms, e-learning services, digital publications, and other protected content.Authentication requirements and device compatibility can create additional difficulties for people who are less familiar with digital platforms. These barriers can limit the potential digital rights management market size, particularly in regions where digital adoption remains uneven.Improving digital skills and internet infrastructure can make protected online services easier to access for a wider group of consumers.
01 Growing Use of AI for Smarter Content Protection Artificial intelligence is opening new possibilities for protecting digital content. Instead of depending only on encryption, companies can use AI to identify suspicious viewing patterns, detect illegal streams, trace leaked content, and prioritize enforcement actions. This can help rights holders react faster when valuable content is being distributed without permission.Combining DRM with AI-powered monitoring and forensic watermarking is becoming one of the important digital rights management market trends, especially for live sports and premium streaming where piracy can cause damage almost immediately.Such technologies provide security companies with an opportunity to offer broader protection services and strengthen their digital rights management market share.
01 Delivering Strong Security Without Making Access Difficult One of the biggest challenges for the digital rights management industry is keeping content secure without making legitimate customers struggle to access it. People expect movies, games, e-books, and live streams to work smoothly across smartphones, televisions, laptops, browsers, gaming consoles, and streaming devices.The difficulty is that these devices do not all use the same protection technology. Content providers may need to support several DRM standards while ensuring that authentication, licensing, and playback happen quickly. A security system that is too complicated can result in playback errors or compatibility problems, frustrating paying customers.Keeping security strong while providing simple and reliable access across different devices will remain an important challenge as digital content reaches more platforms.
In July 2026, the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) released an updated A/362 Digital Rights Management Recommended Practice for ATSC 3.0. The update provides broadcasters and technology providers with current guidance for implementing DRM, security, and content-protection requirements across NextGen TV services.
In June 2026, Microsoft updated its Compliance and Robustness Rules for PlayReady products, strengthening the requirements that device manufacturers and service providers must follow when implementing PlayReady-based content protection. The update supports more consistent protection of premium digital content across streaming platforms and connected devices.
In May 2026, Verimatrix announced that its Streamkeeper Multi-DRM and Counterspy solutions successfully completed Cartesian’s Farncombe Security Audit. The independent assessment reinforced the company’s capabilities in protecting premium video services against piracy and unauthorized content distribution.
In April 2026, castLabs highlighted further developments to its DRMtoday cloud-based multi-DRM platform at NAB Show 2026. The platform supports major DRM technologies, including Google Widevine, Microsoft PlayReady, and Apple FairPlay, helping streaming providers simplify content protection across different devices and operating systems.
In February 2026, Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE selected Axinom GmbH for DRM encryption services. The agreement reflects the growing focus among broadcasters on strengthening digital content security as audiences increasingly shift toward online and streaming-based viewing.