A copyright protection method (150) and apparatus (190) employs (151) a first protection scheme (160) within a single
authorized domain (195), in which all interfaces (194a-c) are protected with
digital rights management system and employs (152) a second protection scheme (170) for use in inter-domain file transfers. The method (150) and apparatus (190) may employ (153) a third protection scheme (180) for external outputs (197a-c) not protected by a
digital rights management system. The first protection scheme (160) includes specifying (161) whether a copy of files is allowed to be stored anywhere within the single
authorized domain; specifying (162) whether files may be stored only on specific devices within the single
authorized domain; or specifying (163) how many simultaneous rendering devices are permitted when rendering files. The second protection scheme (170) may include: specifying (171) if the files may be copied to other domains; and explicitly identifying (172) domains to which copies are allowed; specifying (173) if files may be moved to other domains, and optionally allowing movement of files to any other domain; specifying (174) a
list of specific domains to which content may be copied, and preserving content rights during content transfer to another domain; or specifying (175) specific domains to which content may be moved, and preserving content rights during content transfer. The third protection scheme (180) may include: specifying (181)
copy protection information separately for analog, digital uncompressed and digital compressed outputs; specifying (182) a CGMS
Copy protection state; specifying (183) MACROVISION parameters for analog outputs; specifying (184) if a particular type of output is allowed at all; or disabling (185) the particular type of output if the particular output type is not allowed.