diff --git a/docs/reference/configuration/services.md b/docs/reference/configuration/services.md
index 95ee8ff8..405b4236 100644
--- a/docs/reference/configuration/services.md
+++ b/docs/reference/configuration/services.md
@@ -126,6 +126,13 @@ Each entry under `users` is keyed by that user's API key and may set its own `se
 `username` used as the log label for that key (defaults to a truncated form of the key). A
 user with no `playready_devices` key gets no PlayReady access at all, not the global list.
 
+`server_cdm` decides whether the server runs the CDM licensing for that key. It is `false`
+unless the entry sets it, so a remote client configured with `server_cdm: true` is told to
+license with its own local CDM instead, and a client that asks anyway gets a `FORBIDDEN`
+error. Because a download job always licenses with the server's CDM, a key without
+`server_cdm` also cannot submit or retry `/api/download` jobs. Keys that have no `users`
+entry, such as `api_secret`, keep server CDM access.
+
 ```yaml
 serve:
   api_secret: change-me
@@ -137,6 +144,8 @@ serve:
   users:
     a1b2c3d4:                 # this user's API key
       services: [EXAMPLE1]        # may only use EXAMPLE1
+    e5f6a7b8:
+      server_cdm: true            # this key may have the server do the licensing
 ```
 
 !!! note "`dl` keys inside `serve`"
diff --git a/tests/remote/unit/test_server_cdm_gate.py b/tests/remote/unit/test_server_cdm_gate.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..85f799b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/remote/unit/test_server_cdm_gate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+"""Only keys that opt in may have the server run the CDM licensing."""
+
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+import pytest
+
+from unshackle.core.api import handlers
+from unshackle.core.api.errors import APIError, APIErrorCode
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.unit
+
+USERS = {
+    "tier1key": {"username": "tier1"},
+    "tier3key": {"username": "tier3", "server_cdm": True},
+}
+
+ENTITLEMENTS = [
+    ("tier3key", True),
+    ("tier1key", False),
+    ("adminsecret", True),  # no users entry, e.g. api_secret
+    (None, True),
+]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def serve_users(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(handlers.config, "serve", {"users": USERS}, raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(handlers, "request_secret_key", lambda request: request.headers.get("X-Secret-Key"))
+
+
+def _request(key):
+    return SimpleNamespace(headers={"X-Secret-Key": key} if key else {})
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(("key", "allowed"), ENTITLEMENTS)
+def test_server_cdm_allowed(serve_users, key, allowed):
+    assert handlers.server_cdm_allowed(_request(key)) is allowed
+
+
+def test_no_request_allows(serve_users):
+    assert handlers.server_cdm_allowed(None) is True
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(("key", "allowed"), ENTITLEMENTS)
+def test_download_gate_follows_entitlement(serve_users, key, allowed):
+    # A download job licenses with the server CDM, so submission obeys the same gate.
+    if allowed:
+        handlers.enforce_download_gates({}, _request(key))
+    else:
+        with pytest.raises(APIError) as ei:
+            handlers.enforce_download_gates({}, _request(key))
+        assert ei.value.error_code == APIErrorCode.FORBIDDEN
+
+
+def test_download_gate_without_request(serve_users):
+    handlers.enforce_download_gates({})
diff --git a/unshackle/commands/dl.py b/unshackle/commands/dl.py
index 237777f6..7ecc6f76 100644
--- a/unshackle/commands/dl.py
+++ b/unshackle/commands/dl.py
@@ -1404,7 +1404,7 @@ class dl:
         self.service_anime = bool(getattr(service, "ANIME", False))
         self.service_daily = bool(getattr(service, "DAILY", False))
         self.server_cdm = getattr(service, "_server_cdm", False)
-        self._remote_service = service if self.server_cdm else None
+        self._remote_service = service if hasattr(service, "_server_cdm") else None
         start_time = time.time()
 
         lang, lang_excl = partition_exclusions(lang)
@@ -4256,7 +4256,8 @@ class dl:
         if not drm:
             return
 
-        server_cdm = getattr(self, "server_cdm", False)
+        svc_for_cdm = getattr(self, "_remote_service", None)
+        server_cdm = getattr(svc_for_cdm, "_server_cdm", getattr(self, "server_cdm", False))
 
         if server_cdm:
             if not drm.content_keys:
diff --git a/unshackle/core/api/handlers.py b/unshackle/core/api/handlers.py
index d0def6a6..292bce0d 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/api/handlers.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/api/handlers.py
@@ -283,6 +283,21 @@ def get_allowed_services(request: Optional[web.Request] = None) -> Optional[List
     return list(result)
 
 
+def server_cdm_allowed(request: Optional[web.Request] = None) -> bool:
+    """Whether the calling key may have the server run the CDM licensing.
+
+    Configured keys opt in with ``server_cdm: true``; keys absent from
+    ``serve.users`` (the admin secret) keep full access.
+    """
+    if not request:
+        return True
+    secret_key = request_secret_key(request)
+    user_config = config.serve.get("users", {}).get(secret_key)
+    if user_config is None:
+        return True
+    return bool(user_config.get("server_cdm", False))
+
+
 JOB_EVENTS_ROUTE = "/api/download/jobs/{job_id}/events"
 
 CORS_HEADERS = {
@@ -1034,7 +1049,7 @@ def validate_download_parameters(data: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[str]:
     return None
 
 
-def enforce_download_gates(params: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+def enforce_download_gates(params: Dict[str, Any], request: Optional[web.Request] = None) -> None:
     """Enforce serve-config gates on per-job cdm overrides and client-supplied credentials.
 
     A per-request `cdm` selects a server-side device, so it is gated here rather than honoured
@@ -1043,7 +1058,15 @@ def enforce_download_gates(params: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     A per-request `credential` (or `credentials` map) authenticates the job with client-supplied
     secrets instead of the server-side credentials. Gate it behind `serve.allow_job_credentials`
     (default off) so a default deployment stays locked to its own credentials; mirrors the CDM gate.
+    A download job licenses DRM in-process with the server's own CDM, so a key without
+    ``server_cdm`` cannot submit or retry jobs.
     """
+    if not server_cdm_allowed(request):
+        raise APIError(
+            APIErrorCode.FORBIDDEN,
+            "Download jobs license with the server CDM, which is not enabled for this key.",
+        )
+
     requested_cdm = params.get("cdm")
     if requested_cdm:
         allowed = (config.serve or {}).get("cdm_overrides")
@@ -1087,7 +1110,7 @@ async def download_handler(data: Dict[str, Any], request: Optional[web.Request]
             details={"service": normalized_service, "title_id": title_id},
         )
 
-    enforce_download_gates(data)
+    enforce_download_gates(data, request)
 
     try:
         # Load service module to extract service-specific parameter defaults
@@ -1396,7 +1419,7 @@ async def retry_download_job_handler(job_id: str, request: Optional[web.Request]
                 f"Invalid or unavailable service: {job.service}",
                 details={"service": job.service},
             )
-        enforce_download_gates(job.parameters)
+        enforce_download_gates(job.parameters, request)
 
         await manager.start_workers()
 
@@ -2122,6 +2145,7 @@ async def session_tracks_handler(
                 "manifests": manifests,
                 "session_headers": session_headers,
                 "session_cookies": session_cookies,
+                "server_cdm": server_cdm_allowed(request),
                 "server_cdm_type": server_cdm_type,
             }
         )
@@ -2742,6 +2766,12 @@ async def session_license_handler(
     drm_type = data.get("drm_type", "widevine")
     mode = data.get("mode", "proxy")
 
+    if mode == "server_cdm" and not server_cdm_allowed(request):
+        raise APIError(
+            APIErrorCode.FORBIDDEN,
+            "Server CDM licensing is not enabled for this key. Use a local CDM (proxy mode).",
+        )
+
     if mode == "server_cdm" and track_ids:
         from unshackle.core.config import config as app_config
 
diff --git a/unshackle/core/remote_service.py b/unshackle/core/remote_service.py
index 53ab60c1..dd7bfd4f 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/remote_service.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/remote_service.py
@@ -662,6 +662,9 @@ class RemoteService:
 
         _resolve_manifest_data(tracks, result.get("manifests", []))
 
+        if self._server_cdm and not result.get("server_cdm", True):
+            self._server_cdm = False
+            self.log.warning("Server CDM licensing is not enabled for this key, using the local CDM")
         self._server_cdm_type = result.get("server_cdm_type", "widevine")
 
         self._tracks_by_title[title_id] = tracks