When evaluating DRM (Digital Rights Management) software, it’s important to look beyond just the subscription cost and carefully assess whether the system can be tailored to meet your project’s specific needs. Recently, a prospective partner approached VeryPDF to explore how our DRM Protector could secure their digital publication against unauthorized sharing, while staying within strict budget and feature requirements.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the discussions, including plan options, custom development needs, and answers to specific technical questions.
![[Solution] DRM Software for Secure eBook Distribution: Starter Plan, Professional API Integration, Custom Features, Mandatory 30-Day License Revalidation, Hybrid Offline Reading, and Anti-Screenshot Tools](https://drm.verypdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/image-16.png "[Solution] DRM Software for Secure eBook Distribution: Starter Plan, Professional API Integration, Custom Features, Mandatory 30-Day License Revalidation, Hybrid Offline Reading, and Anti-Screenshot Tools")
Subscription Plan Options
VeryPDF DRM Protector is available in different subscription tiers depending on usage and technical integration requirements:
- Starter Plan
- Designed for smaller-scale deployments where manual management is sufficient.
- Supports a single document and one administrator/editor.
- Well-suited for a few hundred readers.
- Limitations: Does not support automatic API integration.
- Professional Plan
- Includes Automatic API Integration, which allows the DRM system to connect seamlessly with e-commerce platforms, licensing systems, or internal workflows.
- Designed for organizations needing automation from day one.
Plans can be reviewed here: https://drm.verypdf.com/purchase/
Custom Development Requirements
The prospective customer identified several features that are not part of the default Starter Plan but are critical for their project. Two were prioritized immediately, with others considered for later phases.
Examples of Possible Custom Features
- Offline reading with automatic blocking if validation fails (hybrid mode)
- Advanced screenshot protection (beyond default browser limitations)
Once delivered, these features are permanently enabled in your DRM account.
Technical Questions and Answers
Below is a summary of the technical requirements raised, with VeryPDF’s responses.
- Device binding — license tied to a single device
✔ Supported out of the box. You can restrict a license to the first device used by a reader. - Automatic expiration for PDF eBook after 12 months, with renewal option
✦ Requires customization. We can build automatic expiry that forces renewal after a year. - Mandatory revalidation for PDF eBook every 30 days, blocking access if not completed
✦ Requires customization (see details below). - Offline reading with automatic blocking if validation fails
⚠ Fully offline files cannot be blocked later. The best solution is a hybrid mode: offline cache for limited periods + mandatory online revalidation (see details below). - Remote license revocation
✔ Supported by default through the admin console. - Blocking of copying, printing, and redistribution
✔ Supported with built-in copy/print restrictions and watermarking. - Screenshot protection
✦ Partially supported by default. Customization adds stronger OS-level screen capture prevention, overlays, and forensic watermarking. - IP tracking at activation and reading
✔ Supported with audit logs recording IP addresses and activity. - Installable version (desktop or mobile)
✔ Supported across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. A branded reader app can also be custom-developed if needed. - Simple administration (manual, no complex APIs)
✔ Supported through the web-based admin console. APIs are optional.
In-Depth Look at Custom Features
1. Mandatory Revalidation Every 30 Days
This feature ensures that every user must connect to the DRM server at least once every 30 days. If validation does not occur:
- The system automatically blocks access to the protected file until the next successful validation.
- The mechanism protects against cases where users attempt to bypass DRM by staying offline indefinitely.
- Administrators gain control over active users, since revoked or expired licenses will be detected at the next check-in.
Use Case Example:
Imagine a user downloads a protected book and then disconnects from the internet for months. Without this feature, the book would remain accessible. With 30-day mandatory revalidation, the book will stop opening once the grace period ends, unless the user reconnects and their license is validated.
2. Offline Reading with Hybrid Blocking
It is technically impossible to block a fully offline file once it has been distributed. However, VeryPDF DRM Protector can implement a hybrid model:
- Short-Term Offline Cache: Readers can open the book offline for a limited period (e.g., up to 30 days).
- Mandatory Online Check-In: After the offline period, the system requires an online revalidation to confirm that the license is still valid. If this fails, access is automatically blocked.
This balances convenience and security: users don’t need to stay online all the time, but they also cannot keep using the book indefinitely without validation.
Use Case Example:
A student downloads a protected book and goes on a trip with no internet access. They can continue reading offline for up to 30 days. On the 31st day, the book will require a quick online check-in before reopening. If their license was revoked or expired during the trip, the book will remain blocked until renewed.
3. Advanced Screenshot Protection
While no system can guarantee 100% prevention of screenshots on all platforms, custom development adds strong barriers:
- OS-Level Screen Capture Blocking (where supported).
- Dynamic overlays (e.g., session-based watermarks with name, email, timestamp).
- Forensic watermarking that uniquely identifies the source of a leak if a screenshot is taken and shared.
This approach greatly increases the risk of exposure for users who attempt to copy content by screenshots, discouraging abuse.
Next Steps
- Confirm whether custom development for offline hybrid blocking and screenshot protection is required.
- Choose between the Starter Plan (manual management) or the Professional Plan (API integration).
- Once confirmed, VeryPDF will prepare a specification and schedule the custom work. Typical turnaround for custom development is 1–2 weeks after payment.
Conclusion
VeryPDF DRM Protector provides a secure foundation for protecting sensitive works against unauthorized copying and redistribution. With strong default features, flexible subscription options, and the ability to add custom functionality such as mandatory revalidation and hybrid offline blocking, it ensures both protection and scalability.
By starting small and expanding features over time, organizations can confidently protect their content today and scale up as their reader base grows.
Learn more and subscribe here: https://drm.verypdf.com/purchase/