How to reduce unauthorized file sharing

Once a file is on a buyer's device, there's no way to guarantee they never share it. A more realistic goal is making sharing more inconvenient or riskier than it's worth to the person doing it.

Watermarking a PDF, video, or image with the buyer's name or email makes people think twice before posting it publicly, since it can be traced back to them.

Video or documents that only load behind a login are much harder to pass around than a PDF or MP4 that can be forwarded in one message.

Capping how many times a file can be downloaded, or how many devices an account can be used on, makes casual mass-sharing noticeably more annoying to do.

An account with a sudden spike in downloads or views compared to its normal pattern is worth a closer look.

Overly strict protection — heavy DRM, aggressive limits — usually annoys legitimate buyers more than it stops determined piracy. Favor lighter measures that keep the experience good for the vast majority who paid honestly.