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Hollywood studios ‘need to prioritise content security’

Studios "need to utilise" forensic and burnt in watermarking, IP locks and multiple factor authentication

Digital media agency DMS has called on Hollywood studios to be more vigilant regarding their content security.

The statement follows news that hackers are holding Disney Studios to ransom over the release of Pirates of the Caribbean 5 online.

Disney boss Bob Iger revealed on Monday that online pirates are demanding money to stop the premature release. He told Disney employees that the hackers demanded that a huge sum be paid in Bitcoin. They said they would release five minutes of the film at first, and then in 20-minute chunks until their financial demands are met.

The Disney hack comes just a few weeks after Netflix was targeted. A hacker uploaded ten episodes of the new season of Orange Is the New Black to The Pirate Bay after Netflix refused to pay an undisclosed amount. The episodes were posted on Pirate Bay six weeks ahead of the series’ official launch on 9th June.

Neil Bottrill, digital operations director, DMS, told TVBEurope that studios have a dilemma when it comes to making content available in-house: “They need their content to be easily accessible in-house, but completely secure from digital pirates and leaks.

“As online hackers become increasingly sophisticated in their attacks, content security must be prioritised more than ever before. By utilising the latest technologies like forensic and burnt in watermarking, IP locks and multiple factor authentication, studios can track leaks and prevent future hacks, removing them from the easy target list.”

Disney says it will not pay the ransom demanded by the hackers.