Blockchain DRM System for Decentralized Content Licensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Digital Rights Management (DRM) mechanisms fail to support decentralized peer-to-peer content sharing, fair-use practices, and content mash-ups, as they are typically centralized and do not easily accommodate user-generated content or snippets of content used without permission.

Innovation Solution

A blockchain-based DRM system that enables decentralized peer-to-peer content sharing by using decentralized applications (DApps) to manage licenses, smart contracts to define license terms, and a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) for secure content presentation, allowing for user-generated content and fair-use practices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If centralized DRM mechanisms are used, then content protection and license management are provided, but decentralized peer-to-peer content sharing and user-generated content creation are not supported

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for decentralized peer-to-peer content sharingVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the DRM functionality by distributing license issuance from a centralized server to decentralized applications (DApps) hosted on blockchain nodes. Each DApp independently manages licenses for specific content or services, enabling peer-to-peer content sharing while maintaining security through distributed architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain serves as an intermediary layer between content providers and consumers. Smart contracts on the blockchain automatically handle license verification and content delivery, eliminating the need for complex centralized authentication systems while enabling decentralized content sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If entire content streams are encrypted with a single encryption key, then content protection is maintained, but fair-use practices and content snippets sharing are not supported

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for fair-use practices and content snippetsVSAvoidcontent protection security
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments content protection by issuing separate encryption keys for different content items or segments rather than using a single key for the entire stream. This allows users to obtain licenses for specific content snippets or fair-use portions without compromising the security of the complete content stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables partial content access by allowing users to request and decrypt only specific portions of content that they have been licensed to view, rather than requiring access to the entire content stream. This supports fair-use practices while maintaining security through selective decryption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If licenses are obtained from centralized entities, then content access is controlled, but user-generated content creation and mash-up production are not enabled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser-generated content creation capabilityVSAvoidcontent licensing process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service content creation by allowing users to directly obtain licenses from content providers through decentralized applications. Users can autonomously manage their own content libraries, request licenses for materials they need, and create mash-ups without requiring intervention from centralized licensing authorities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Content providers pre-configure their licensing terms and availability on the blockchain through smart contracts. When users request content, the system automatically verifies licenses and provides access, eliminating the need for complex manual licensing processes while enabling user-generated content creation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4530895A1Apparatuses, devices, methods, and non-transitory machine-readable storage media for presenting content and for a node of a blockchain network
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 INTEL CORP
  • EP4530895A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4530895A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4530895A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various examples relate to apparatuses, devices, methods, and non-transitory machine-readable storage media for presenting content and for a node of a blockchain network. An apparatus for presenting content is to obtain the content, obtain, from at least one decentralized application referenced by the content, at least one license for using the content, and present the content in accordance with the at least one license.