---
title: "Digital rights management"
slug: "digital-rights-management"
abstract: "Overview of the digital rights management (DRM)."
---
# Digital rights management

Digital rights management (DRM) refers to any scheme that controls access to copyrighted or licensed assets. In Sitecore Content Hub, DRM prevents the unauthorized use and download of restricted assets. It is implemented using [rights profiles](https://doc.sitecore.com/ch/en/users/content-hub/rights-profiles.html "Rights profiles") and [DRM (or digital) contracts](https://doc.sitecore.com/ch/en/users/content-hub/manage-drm-contracts.html "Manage DRM contracts"), which determine the context in which an asset can be used: in which territory, for which media, and during which period.

In Content Hub, assets can be:

- **Unrestricted** - where users can download an asset without restriction.
- **Restricted** - where users can only download the asset if the intended use complies with the defined rules, or if they [request permission](https://doc.sitecore.com/ch/en/users/content-hub/request-download-of-restricted-assets.html "Request download of restricted assets") and it is granted. The DRM administrator [approves or rejects the DRM requests](https://doc.sitecore.com/ch/en/users/content-hub/approve-or-reject-drm-requests.html "Approve or reject DRM requests").

An asset is restricted when at least one rights profile is linked to it. You can restrict an asset from the asset details page, or you can [add a rights profile](https://doc.sitecore.com/ch/en/users/content-hub/add-a-rights-profile-to-a-contract.html "Add a rights profile to a contract") and attach it to a [DRM contract](https://doc.sitecore.com/ch/en/users/content-hub/manage-drm-contracts.html "Manage DRM contracts").

> [!important]
> Clicking a public link to a restricted asset returns a 404 error unless you have permission to download that asset.

> [!tip]
> Content Hub information architects and those in technical roles can find more detailed information about digital rights management in the [Accelerate Cookbook for Content Hub](https://developers.sitecore.com/learn/accelerate/content-hub/implementation/digital-rights-management#insights), a collection of recipes that provides information to help you successfully set up, configure, and implement Content Hub.