Add watermarks to unreleased videos before sharing

Add a visible watermark carrying the reviewer's email, a project code, or a static overlay to any rough cut, screener, or pre-release video before you share it. Layer password protection, expiration dates, and domain-restricted embeds on top. If a leak happens, the watermark tells you which reviewer's copy got forwarded, and the surrounding controls limit where the link works in the first place.
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Unreleased video leaks are a real risk, and a share link alone is not a control

  • One forward is a leak

    A rough cut sent to a client review list ends up in someone's Slack in five minutes and on a laptop in someone else's office by the afternoon. Without a watermark, you have no idea whose copy got forwarded.

  • Screen recording bypasses copy protection

    A viewer can screen-record any video that plays on their device. Without a visible overlay on the playback surface, a screen-captured copy is indistinguishable from any other version.

  • Unwatermarked cuts undermine legal recourse

    When a leak surfaces, the question is: whose copy is it. Without a traceable overlay tied to a specific reviewer, the legal team is guessing. A watermark makes the source of the leak evidence.

Unreleased video (film screeners, ad campaigns before launch, product footage, executive announcements, licensed content) is high-risk to share and high-cost to leak. A visible watermark tied to the reviewer is the layer that turns a leak from an unsolved mystery into a traceable event, and pairs with password protection, expiration, and domain restrictions to shrink the risk surface before the share goes out.

Overlay a reviewer-specific watermark on every screener

Vimeo overlays a visible watermark on the playback surface with the reviewer's email, a project code, or a static badge. The watermark travels with the video: if the screener is screen-recorded and forwarded, the overlay is in the recording. Position it in a corner or pin it to a spot that resists cropping. With password sharing and expiration, each reviewer's copy is traceable.
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Reviewer-specific email overlay

Overlay the reviewer's email address on the playback surface. Every copy of the screener carries a unique identifier, so a screen-captured or downloaded leak is traceable to a specific reviewer.

Project code or static badge

For workflows that don't want to expose reviewer emails, overlay a project code, a version tag, or a static 'confidential' badge. Same traceability, different identifier scheme.

Position and opacity control

Set the watermark position (corner, center, or custom), opacity, and size. Pin it in a spot that resists cropping without covering the composition the reviewer needs to see.

Travels with screen recording

The watermark is baked into the playback surface, so a screen recording captures it too. A forwarded screen capture carries the same identifier the original playback showed.

Layer password, expiration, and domain restrictions on top of the watermark

The watermark is one layer of the security stack. Password-protect the share link so a stray forward doesn't play without the password. Set an expiration date so the link stops working after the review window. Add domain-restricted embeds so the video only plays on approved sites. On Enterprise, DRM (Widevine, PlayReady, FairPlay) blocks unauthorized playback and screen recording at the OS level.
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Password-protected share links

Add a password to any review link. A forwarded URL without the password shows a locked player, so a stray share doesn't turn into a playback event.

Expiration dates on links

Set the link to stop working on a specific date or after a review window. The screener sitting on someone's laptop after the window closes is a dead link.

Domain-restricted embeds

Pin the embed to an allowlist of approved domains. Even if the iframe code leaks, the player refuses to load anywhere else, so scrapers can't repost the rough cut.

Enterprise DRM

Widevine, PlayReady, and FairPlay DRM block unauthorized playback and screen recording on supported devices. Reserved for the highest-sensitivity content on Enterprise plans.

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Why watermarking unreleased videos is table stakes for high-risk sharing

Unreleased video sharing without a watermark is a bet: that no reviewer forwards the link, that no forwarded link plays, that no screen recording gets out. Watermarks flip that bet. Every copy is traceable, and with password, expiration, and domain restrictions on top, the risk surface shrinks to something you can defend. For film, ad, product, and executive content, watermarking is table stakes.

  • Reviewer-specific traceability

    Every watermark carries the reviewer's email or a project code. A leak points back to a specific reviewer, which changes the calculus for anyone considering a forward.

  • Position and opacity control

    Set the watermark where it resists cropping without covering the composition. Opacity tunes to the trade-off between visibility and viewer distraction.

  • Travels with screen recording

    Watermarks bake into the playback surface, so a screen recording captures them. A forwarded screen cap still carries the identifier from the original session.

  • Layered with password protection

    Every link supports password protection on top of the watermark. A forwarded URL without the password plays nothing, which is another friction layer on the leak path.

  • Layered with link expiration

    Set an expiration date so the review link stops working after the window closes. Old screeners on laptops become dead links.

  • Domain-restricted embeds on top

    The embed refuses to load on any domain outside the allowlist. Scrapers and reposts can't play the rough cut on their sites even if they grab the iframe code.

  • Enterprise DRM for the highest tier

    Widevine, PlayReady, and FairPlay DRM block unauthorized playback and screen recording at the OS level. Reserved for the most sensitive content.

  • Five privacy modes at the video level

    Public, Unlisted, Password-protected, Hide from Vimeo, and Private cover every access pattern from full lockdown to controlled preview.

  • Workspace default share policy

    Set default privacy, password, expiration, watermark, and end-screen behavior at the workspace level. New shares follow the policy without per-video setup.

How to add a watermark to an unreleased video with Vimeo

Adding a watermark takes about a minute. Here's the flow from upload to shared review link.

  1. Step 1

    Upload the rough cut to your Vimeo workspace, ideally into a project folder with default share policy already applied (watermark on, password required, expiration set).

  2. Step 2

    Open the video's settings and turn on the watermark. Enter the reviewer's email, a project code, or a static badge string, and choose position and opacity.

  3. Step 3

    Enable password protection, set an expiration date on the share link, and add domain-restricted embeds if the video is meant to appear on a specific site.

  4. Step 4

    Copy the review link and send it to the reviewer. They open the link, enter the password, and see the video with their identifier overlaid on the playback surface.

  5. Step 5

    For each additional reviewer, generate a separate watermarked share so the identifier is unique per reviewer. If a leak surfaces later, the watermark points to the source.
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Find the right plan for you

    Vimeo offers discounts to US-based non-profit organizations and educational institutions. Learn more.

    For more information on feature availability, please reference our pricing page.

    Frequently asked questions about watermarking unreleased videos

    Vimeo overlays a visible watermark on the playback surface with text you configure: the reviewer's email, a project code, or a static badge. The watermark is baked into the playback layer, so a screen recording captures it too. Position, opacity, and size are configurable so the watermark stays visible without covering the composition.

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