Brightcove along with NAGRA, Akamai, and BuyDRM bring security feature for Oscars screening platform

Brightcove has announced its coordination with NAGRA, the digital TV division of the Kudelski Group, Akamai, the intelligent edge platform for securing and delivering digital experiences, and BuyDRM, a global provider of Digital Rights Management and Content Security Services. The Brightcove platform, NAGRA NexGuard Streaming forensic watermarking, Akamai Adaptive Media Delivery, and the KeyOS MultiKey Service are the technologies behind the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ new security feature for the Academy Screening Room, a screening platform for Academy members used as part of the screening process for the Oscars.

The valuable new forensic watermarking feature enables the Academy to control piracy across its screening platform by auditing content, as well as tracking down stolen content and distribution channels. This is a significant milestone for the industry as forensic watermarking not only strengthens the security of the Academy’s platform but also deters content piracy as a whole – a challenge the film industry has faced for years, as have content owners and pay-TV operators. 

The Academy membership uses its streaming platform to watch movies in consideration for the upcoming award season. The platform allows for desktop and mobile web access, as well as tvOS applications, which were built using Brightcove’s technology. Leveraging leading solutions offered by Brightcove, NAGRA, Akamai, and BuyDRM, the Academy can now prevent its streaming platform users from participating in pirate activity, such as screen recording content, recording with other devices, and removing video clips from Brightcove’s video player.

Jean-Philippe Plantevin, VP Anti-Piracy, NAGRA, comments, “Leveraging NAGRA’s strong heritage in the media and entertainment industry, we’re honored to be selected by the Academy to enable their transition from physical to digital distribution of movies and ensure their content remains secure at every step of the process. Our NexGuard Streaming solution is the industry-standard in ensuring the protection of high-value on-demand streaming content. The ability to apply server-side watermarking with no changes to the player enables the widest device and app reach, and allows for seamless and secure digital screeners.”

Amit Kasturia, Senior Media Product Manager, Akamai, says, “The Academy’s forensic watermarking implementation shows how Brightcove, NAGRA, Akamai, and BuyDRM can form an ecosystem that supports enhanced security across the entire content delivery workflow while maintaining the high quality of experience that viewers expect. These combined capabilities can help protect the Academy against attempts by pirates to steal content and minimize their means of illegal redistribution.”

According to Christopher Levy, CEO and Founder, BuyDRM, “BuyDRM takes great pride in working with Brightcove, NAGRA, and Akamai to deliver these security features for the Academy’s secure screener platform. Enabling Academy members to securely access these types of high-value premium forensically watermarked experiences is an amazing effort which we are excited to have been a part of.”

“Security is of the utmost importance to organizations today. Given the Academy's prestigiousness, it’s critical for them to rely on service providers that secure their content in a way that the viewing experience isn’t compromised,” said Charles Chu, Chief Product Officer, Brightcove. “At Brightcove, we pride ourselves on our ability to do both, therefore we’re happy we could join forces with Akamai, NAGRA, and BuyDRM to create this complete, all-inclusive security feature that the Academy needs to protect their content. We’re proud that Brightcove’s video technology played such an important role in this collaboration, and we’re excited to see the forensic watermarking security feature come to life for the Academy.”