Content Protection Interoperability Challenges and Opportunities in the Home Environment

The increasing use of digital media and home networks is creating among consumers the expectation that content should be able to move seamlessly around the home. For the PC and consumer electronics industries, this represents a unique opportunity to create the next generation of devices and software that will deliver a unique user experience. For content producers and distributors, this convergence creates opportunities for new business models and increased sales. — However, there are significant technical and business challenges, including making it easier for consumers to set up these complex systems and addressing interoperability issues. Perhaps the most critical area is content protection, for without appropriate safeguards premium commercial content will not be widely available on these emerging systems. — In this paper, I cover some of these trends as well as ongoing efforts to improve interoperability of devices and content to create a compelling digital media ecosystem. The focus is on content protection and digital rights management (DRM) aspects.