How to prevent users download videos?

[rledda]

Hello everyone,

I had the need to upload videos for a course but one of the requirements was to prevent the videos be downloaded. I found a workaround to achieve this:

1. When you embed you videos activate the HTML editor.
2. In the code look at this: class=" instructure_video_link instructure_file_link"
3. Change that code for "instructure_inline_media_comment video_comment"

Regards,

Rosalie

[bgrow_sales]

Very good info Rosalie! I'm wondering if you know of a way to do this globally with the css. Instead of doing this for each individual video.

[rledda]

Hello Brian,

No idea... the thing is I'm not sure we are able to change that as it comes by default in canvas.

Rosalie

[tdw]

Hey Brian,

First let me say that I'm a strong believer that security through obscurity is not security.  Meaning, hiding links won't actually prevent the user from being able to download the video.  If you load it in the page they will have the ability to save a copy on their computer.  That's a by-design feature of the open web.  That said, here's a CSS and JS version to globally remove the download links for students:

//CSS HIDE DOWNLOAD LINK
.student-version .link_holder a:not(.instructure_inline_media_comment) {
    display: none;
}

//JS REMOVE DOWNLOAD LINK
$(function(){
    $(".student-version .link_holder a:not(.instructure_inline_media_comment)").remove();
});

Simply add either of these (you don't need both) to your Account via the Theme Editor.

[neugenecu]

Can this also prevent youtube videos from being downloaded?

[Chris_Hofer]

Hello @neugenecu ...

Not really sure about that...but I believe downloading videos from YouTube goes against their Terms of Service...so that would be risky, IMHO.

[NWPhysiology]

Brain. Is there an inline CSS variation? Or does this have to go through the admin template?