Limiting key request rates for streaming media

A key-providing service comprising:

• one or more processors operatively coupled to a network;
• one or more storage devices operative coupled to the one or more processors;
• wherein the one or more processors are programmed to:
• maintain statistics of digital key requests on the one or more storage devices for each requestor-id of a plurality of requestor-ids, wherein a requester can access a portion of a streaming media item by submitting to a media server a key corresponding to the portion of the streaming media item;
• receive, over the network from a first client, a first key request for a first key needed to play a first portion of a first streaming media item;
• and
• respond to receiving the first key request by:
• determining that the first key request includes a first requestor-id;
• retrieving first statistics maintained for the first requestor-id;
• updating a current key-request rate to indicate receipt of the first key request;
• based at least in part on the first statistics, determining whether to:
• provide the first key to the first client without taking remedial action, or
• take remedial action;
• responsive to determining to provide the first key to the first client without taking remedial action, providing the first key over the network to the first client without taking remedial action;
• and
• responsive to determining to take remedial action, taking remedial action.