How PlayReady works
As with other DRM systems, the video is encrypted at packaging. The PlayReady client on the device requests a license, the license server checks the viewer's entitlement and returns the key along with the rules for that playback.
PlayReady security levels
The license server can set a minimum level per title or per resolution, so a 4K stream is only issued to devices that report SL3000.
- SL150: for development and testing only
- SL2000: software-based protection, accepted for standard and some high definition content
- SL3000: hardware-based protection inside a trusted execution environment, required by most rights holders for 4K and HDR
Where PlayReady fits
PlayReady matters most on televisions and in the living room: many Samsung and LG sets, operator set-top boxes and Xbox rely on it. On Windows it is what allows 4K playback in Edge and in Windows apps.
It shares Common Encryption with Widevine, so the same encrypted files can serve both, with FairPlay covering Apple devices.
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