If I want to prevent the casual copyright thief from seeing a Vimeo URL in my source code, I understand that there is something called Javascript encryption. Is there a stack for that? If not is there any other way I can make the Vimeo link invisible to someone viewing the page source?
Vimeo offers privacy settings that allow you to prevent videos from being downloaded as well as Enabling domain-level privacy. The domain-level privacy feature will prevent any play from any place other than what you specify.
1 Like
Hi thanks for the reply - I have already set the privacy as you described, the problem is that Vimeo don’t use Widevine DRM - so there are rippers that can still download the content if the user has the URL of the video - which unfortunately can be seen in the source code. The videos are commercially valuable and are the results of months of painstaking work. I cannot afford for them to get into the public domain without putting up a fight.
They would have to rip them from your domain and your player.
If they just copy the URL for example:
https://vimeo.com/441833499
Vimeo will give them anot found:
if they try and play it by embedding it
I tested it today and managed to steal my own video in about ten minutes. Straight from the Vimeo server and in HD. I used a ripping software costing just 12 quid. You put the Vimeo URL into it and it allows you to download the video in any resolution. This is why I need to obfuscate the URL in my source code if possible.
Do you have it set not to be downloadable?
I don’t know what software you are using, but I know several paid training sites that use Vimeo and aren’t having problems.
The reality is there no way I can think off to encrypt the URL. Anything a browser displays can be seen. Javascript can scramble things from robots like email addresses, but since the Javascript itself is on the browser and then executed, the outcome would be findable in the DOM.
Can you downloadl this video (it just a junk screenshot(12 seconds)?
https://vimeo.com/441833499
@johntalbot What @teefers is saying is true. What I don’t understand in this situation is why you don’t have people pay, or be members, to view your videos. This doesn’t completely solve the problem but at least it mitigates how many folks could view it. And if they’ve paid for it then it’s much more unlikely they’ll rip in order to rip you off!
Unless I’m misunderstanding things it sounds more like you need some privacy protection for relevant pages. @joeworkman has a stack called PageSafe that could do the job. If you need something more extensive (e.g. for membership sites) then you might want Sitelok.
I have paid for a few video courses and almost all of them I can download. I won’t resell or steal: after all I paid for the course. I just want the speed and advantage of playing from my hard drive. (I have a modest internet connection.)
Maybe we don’t know enough about the particulars of your situation: perhaps there’s a better solution then what’s been suggested so far.
The URL is really irrelevant. If it plays in the bowser, the video and audio can be downloaded with software. You can make is harder by putting the video behind login, but if someone’s determined, they’ll download your video with little effort.
That page doesn’t exist according to Vimeo.
Thanks for the reply. This is an on-line course that we are having to run during the pandemic to replace a world-famous live course. Participants will be paying to attend. I already have Site-Lock. I think the answer to my question is that we can’t obfuscate a URL in the code. So that is fine - I will need to think of something else.
Yes - they could screen-grab it for example.
John(@johntalbot),
That video does exist On Vimeo and can be viewed on this page(just below the markdown).
Try and download it.
Yes you can screen grab anything,but try and download the original from Vimeo.
Thanks Teefers. That is interesting - when I click the link to your video in the code it takes me to a page that says “Sorry Video cannot be played here”. But when I do the same to one of my videos it gives the same “Sorry” message but places a blue button underneath that says…
And the URL for that version of the video (Gabriele) can be ripped. If I use the same URL and enter the id number of your video instead of mine it says “sorry can’t find that page”.
I just need to know how to get rid of that blue button and to make it return a “can’t find that page” message - like your video. It must be in the settings somewhere. But I can’t find it.
I think you need to change the privacy setting.
Change the first setting Who can watch?
Change it on the drop-down to
Hide this video from vimeo.com (Plus + Pro + Business + Premium only)
I think that will get rid of the button.
2 Likes
AWESOME - thanks mate I owe you a beer. I tried that earlier and it didn’t work, but as I was trying it again I realised that I was still signed into Vimeo - that was the problem!
Thanks again for your time. 
3 Likes
This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.