CDM/DRM Changes: Blank Screen-recording During Video Streaming

[Todd Gruel]

I am not sure which forum to post this in.

I am a Mac user and I recently noticed that I have unilaterally lost the ability to screen capture online video for my recreational use: as soon as I attempted to record a snippet of a video, the streaming service would black out the screen. At first I thought that it was a fluke phenomenon particular to a certain internet browser or streaming platform. But after I tried a range of other browsers, platforms, and screen recording apps — including EaseUS, WinX HD, OBS, and MacX — all which had the same effect, I now realize that this is a new universal standard for all online content interaction.

Has anyone else successively navigated this issue? Am I right in assuming that this is not a Mac-specific phenomenon? The fact that this same phenomenon occurs while attempting to screen record a DVD seems to suggest that Mac OS has also now been modified in its design.

Can anyone educate me as to how this is related to Content Decryption Modules? What exactly is a CDM?

I have also noticed that Firefox seems to give users the options of not complying with the now industry-standard technology requirements for streaming online content, yet that noncompliance seems to come at a consequence:

“You have the choice to globally opt out of HTML5 DRM playback. Once you opt out, Firefox will delete any downloaded CDMs from your hard drive, cease all future CDM downloads and disable DRM playback.”

I’m not trying to be provocative or controversial. Again, I have never used my screen recordings for anything other than recreational purposes. Although I understand that technology, and the powers that be who design it, cannot discern our intentions, I’m just trying to understand the recent changes that have occurred, so that I can adapt accordingly. Thank you for any help you can provide.