> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://mediakind.ferndocs.com/mkio/how-to/drm-content-protection/external-playready-license-url/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://mediakind.ferndocs.com/_mcp/server.

# External PlayReady License

By default, MK.IO handles PlayReady license delivery for your content. If you need to use a separate license server, you can configure a custom license acquisition URL in a streaming policy.

## Configure an external license URL

Create a streaming policy with a `customLicenseAcquisitionUrlTemplate` value for PlayReady using the MK.IO API:

```bash
curl --request PUT \
     --url https://app.mk.io/api/v1/projects/project_name/media/streamingPolicies/policy_name \
     --header 'accept: application/json' \
     --header 'content-type: application/json' \
     --header 'Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_MKIO_JWT>' \
     --data '
{
  "properties": {
    "commonEncryptionCenc": {
      "enabledProtocols": {
        "download": false,
        "dash": true,
        "hls": false,
        "smoothStreaming": false
      },
      "contentKeys": {
        "defaultKey": {
          "label": "cencDefaultKey"
        }
      },
      "drm": {
        "playReady": {
          "customLicenseAcquisitionUrlTemplate": "https://test.playready.microsoft.com/service/rightsmanager.asmx?cfg=(contentkey:eNqVnXrElmo2NSsn7IXeEA==,kid:e13a7861-d8cc-4284-9245-7c835ebde9f0)"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
'

```

Replace the `customLicenseAcquisitionUrlTemplate` value with the URL of your PlayReady license server.

Use the streaming policy when preparing the asset for streaming. See [Stream live and VOD assets](/mkio/how-to/content-delivery-publishing/stream-content) for details.

## Combine with explicit content keys

You can combine an external PlayReady license URL with [explicit content keys](/mkio/how-to/drm-content-protection/explicit-content-keys) to build a complete DRM workflow where MK.IO does not manage the encryption keys or license delivery.