Content security layer providing long-term renewable security

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, digital content is mastered as a combination of encrypted data and data processing operations that enable use in approved playback environments. Player devices having a processing environment compatible with the content's data processing operations are able to decrypt and play the content. Players can also provide content with basic functions, such as loading data from media, performing network communications, determining playback environment configuration, controlling decryption/playback, and/or performing cryptographic operations using the player's keys. These functions allow the content to implement and enforce its own security policies. If pirates compromise individual players or content titles, new content can be mastered with new security features that block the old attacks. A selective decryption capability can also be provided, enabling on-the-fly watermark insertion so that attacks can be traced back to a particular player. Features to enable migration from legacy formats are also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 279,323, filed Mar. 28, 2001.FIELD[0002] This application relates generally to securing the distribution of digital content against piracy and other unauthorized use or redistribution.BACKGROUND[0003] A wide variety of systems have been proposed for protecting digital content. Most such schemes encrypt the content to protect it against unauthorized use and copying while it is stored on media or sent over untrusted communication channels. Decryption algorithms and keys are then managed by trusted, tamper-resistant software or hardware modules, which are designed to enforce access control rules (which may be fixed or configurable) specifying how the content can be used.[0004] Content protection schemes are generally customized for a particular playback environment. For example, anti-piracy systems in software-only streaming content players designed for personal compu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0036] The present application relates to various embodiments, and aspects, of a standardizable content protection system that can be implemented in a manner providing flexible and renewable content protection across a

Problems solved by technology

The system provides participants (manufacturers, publishers, artists, and/or consumers, etc.) with unparallele

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