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Best Digital Rights Management (DRM) Software 2025

What is Digital Rights Management Software?Digital Rights Management (DRM) software protects digital rights against copyright infringement and minimizes the unauthorized copying and distribution of digital media and software. It is used to protect movies, eBooks, music, art, video games, and proprietary information. DRM software is used by businesses, studios, creative agencies, publishers, and technology companies. DRM is also known as Technological Protection Measures (TPM).Catching ...

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Learn More about Digital Rights Management (DRM) Software

What is Digital Rights Management Software?

Digital Rights Management (DRM) software protects digital rights against copyright infringement and minimizes the unauthorized copying and distribution of digital media and software. It is used to protect movies, eBooks, music, art, video games, and proprietary information. DRM software is used by businesses, studios, creative agencies, publishers, and technology companies. DRM is also known as Technological Protection Measures (TPM).


Catching individuals who engage in piracy is difficult, thus DRM tools take a proactive approach, creating barriers for controlling the use, modification, and distribution of digital content. These multiple strategies include verification, encryption, copy restriction, anti-tampering, regional lockouts, expiration dates, user authorizations, device controls, and tracking.


DRM tools can help companies control access to confidential information. When used in this context it can help identify and investigate unauthorized usage and leaks.

Blockchain, which uses cryptography to secure a decentralized ‘digital ledger,’ is an emerging digital rights management tool. It is used to secure NFT’s (Non-Fungible Tokens), which are one-of-a-kind, verifiable digital assets such as art, gifs, videos, trading cards, and music.


Many Digital Asset Management (DAM) software tools include robust DRM features within their offerings to ensure their assets are safely distributed. Virtual Data Room software, which stores and shares proprietary information, often provides DRM tools to support secure file sharing outside the data room.

Digital Rights Management Software Features

Leading digital rights management software should include most or all of the following features:


  • Access Expiration Management

  • Access Revocation

  • Anti-tampering / Prevent Modification of Assets

  • Asset Formats – Supports Audio, Video, Image, Text, and Document Protection

  • Copy Protection / Restriction

  • Device Control

  • Digital Distribution Management & Control

  • Educates Users about Copyrights and Intellectual Property

  • Encryption

  • License Management

  • Location Control / Regional Lock Out

  • Subscription Management

  • Software Application Protection

  • Tracking – Watermarks, Metadata

  • Usage Tracking Analytics

  • Verification - Product Keys, Limited Installations, Online Authorization – Password Protection

  • Watermarking

Digital Rights Management Software Comparison

Consider this when purchasing digital rights management software.


Integration: If you have digital asset management (DAM) software already installed in your organization, are DRM tools included with its features? If not, or if you require additional DRM functionality, how well will your DRM selection integrate with your current DAM platform? Poorly-integrated solutions can require duplicate manual processes, dramatically reducing efficiency.


Deployment Platform: Digital rights management software can be deployed through cloud-based SaaS, desktop, and mobile products, or via a combination of those platforms. Consider which hosting method is most appropriate for the asset classes and scalability of your organization.


Pricing Information

Many vendors require a quote for their services. Pricing models include one-time licensing fees and monthly or annual charges based upon the number of users. Entry-level products begin at $99 a month and can range to over $600 a month per user. Some vendors offer free trials for their products.

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Digital Rights Management (DRM) FAQs

What does Digital Rights Management Software do?

Digital Rights Management (DRM) software protects against the unauthorized copying, use, or modification of digital assets. It protects intellectual, creative, and technological property and proprietary information through a variety of possible methods.

What are the benefits of using Digital Rights Management Software?

Digital rights management software enables organizations to:

  • Protect digital assets from piracy
  • Protect income streams, and helps monetize digital content more effectively
  • Maintain right to ownership - helps creatives retain ownership and control of their work
  • Safeguard intellectual property, confidential, and proprietary information
  • Help enforce copyright laws
  • Help prevent competitors from stealing your digital assets and intellectual property
  • Streamline licensing agreements
  • Inform users and raises awareness of creative rights and fair usage policies

How much does Digital Rights Management Software cost?

Pricing models include one-time licensing fees and monthly or annual charges based upon the number of users which for entry-level products range from $99 to over $600 a month. Some vendors offer free trials for their products.