Protecting screeners and pre-release copies

Why pre-release copies leak

Most leaks do not come from a break-in. They come from the number of people who legitimately hold a copy and the lack of any link between the copy and the person. A file sent by email can be forwarded without effort. A download link can be passed on. Nobody can tell afterwards where it started.

Reducing leaks is therefore partly a matter of the number of copies, and partly of making each copy accountable.

Start with who needs it

Make a list of recipients before sending anything. For each, record why they need the title, which version they get and for how long. Cut the list to those with a real need. Every extra recipient adds risk.

Agree the terms in writing. A recipient who has accepted clear rules on sharing, recording and deleting has a reason to take care, and the rights owner has something to rely on if a leak happens.

Control how the video is viewed

• Streaming review links over file downloads. A player that does not offer the file keeps the video on your side, which is harder to forward than an attachment.
• Individual accounts. Each reviewer signs in with their own login, never a shared one. Shared logins remove accountability.
• Expiry. Links and accounts end after the review period. Remove access when someone no longer needs it.
• Limits on devices and sessions. Restricting simultaneous sessions makes it harder to share a login.
• Encrypted delivery and DRM. Where the platform supports it, these limit who can play the stream.
• Access logs. Record who opened what and when.

None of these stops someone who has legitimate access from recording the screen. That is where watermarking comes in.

Make each copy traceable

A per-recipient forensic watermark gives every viewer or file a different hidden identifier. If a copy leaks, the identifier is read and checked against the delivery log to find which recipient or session it came from. Our guide to invisible watermarking explains how this works, and the fingerprinting comparison explains when it is the right tool.

Some points to settle at the start:

• The mark must be applied before delivery, per recipient or per session.
• The log that links each identifier to a recipient needs to be kept and protected.
• Visible marks can be used as well. A visible name on screen can deter casual sharing, but it can be cropped, so it supports the hidden mark and does not replace it.
• Tell recipients that copies are traceable. Awareness is part of the deterrent.

Prepare before a leak happens

Decide in advance who handles a leak, so no time is lost on the day. A short plan covers:

• Who is told first, and who decides on action.
• Where evidence is stored.
• Which platforms you will report to, and the contact route for each.
• Who speaks to the recipient if the copy is traced.

Set up monitoring for the title name, alternative titles and key phrases before sharing begins. Early detection shortens how long a copy is online.

What to do when a leak appears

1. Capture first. Save the page, the link and the file or stream, with the date and time. Evidence disappears once material is removed.
2. Read the watermark. If the copy is marked, run detection on the captured file and compare the result with the delivery log. Treat the result as evidence to review.
3. Send removal requests. Report to the host, the platform and any search engines. A DMCA notice is the common format, and the route depends on where the copy sits.
4. Close access. If a recipient is identified, end their access and any other copies they hold.
5. Follow up under your agreement. Decide what action is proportionate. Take advice from a lawyer before accusing anyone.
6. Keep watching. Re-uploads usually follow the first removal, so keep checking.

Know the limits

A trace identifies where a copy came from, but not always why. A recipient's account or device may have been used by someone else. This is one reason to be careful about conclusions and to keep the evidence complete.

Even a well-run process cannot guarantee that nothing leaks. It reduces how likely a leak is and how long it lasts, and it makes follow-up possible.