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Advantages of DRM With Microsoft® Windows Media® DRM, content owners from large media companies to individual talent can now quickly and easily offer their assets online. At the same time, they can maintain the integrity of their copyrights, no matter how widely circulated their digital material is. Individual consumers can then enjoy digital music in a convenient and legal way. The Importance of DRM for Artists and Corporations The need for strong Digital Rights Management , DRM, technology has increased due to vast improvements in streaming media and compression technology. High-quality audio and video are now a reality on the Web. This reality has created one of the hottest trends on the Internet -- downloading licensed, and in some cases, unlicensed audio content. This digital media can be easily copied and distributed, without any reduction in quality. Consequently, content providers face serious problems in protecting their rights over this digital media. Microsoft, along with most of the software industry, has battled piracy for many years. As a result, Microsoft has gained a deep understanding of the damage that the copying of digital media can do to artists and corporations alike. With Windows Media Digital Rights Management , DRM, content providers can now use license registration and media file encryption to protect their digital media rights and stay closer to their customers. Windows Media DRM was first released in August 1999. The latest release, Windows Media DRM 10 Series, includes both server and client software development kits (SDKs) that enable programs to protect and play back digital media files. Using the Windows Media Rights Manager SDK, developers can create applications that encrypt digital media files and issue licenses for those digital media files. Such files can be either streamed or downloaded to the consumer's PC. Using the DRM component in the Windows Media Format SDK, developers can enable applications to acquire licenses and decrypt protected media files. The consumer can then play the digital media files back on media players and applications that utilize the DRM component in the Windows Media Format SDK and compatible portable devices. Together with the latest Windows Media Encoder 9 Series, Windows Media DRM 10 Series can also support real-time encryption, encoding and encrypting the file simultaneously such that the content is never in the clear prior to delivery.
With Windows Media DRM, retailers and record labels can set up Internet music stores to distribute digital media files. Content providers can also remain confident that their digital media files will stay protected, no matter how widely they are distributed. The license acquisition process allows companies to gather targeted customer information. For example, many music distribution Web sites now request the consumer's e-mail address in exchange for audio file licenses. Music distribution companies can then use this e-mail address to keep the consumer up-to-date on concert schedules and new compact disc (CD) releases, or to market related merchandise. Alternatively, unsigned bands can upload and market their music directly to fans using Windows Media DRM, while record labels can generate interest in new bands by offering free downloads of their new music. Windows Media uses one of the strongest DRM encryption schemes available, which would take days of supercomputer time to decode. To raise the protection level further, a content owner can change the media file encryption keys daily, or even every few hours. In addition, the PC-by-PC licensing scheme acts as a strong deterrent to intentional piracy. Advantages for Consumers Digital distribution offers consumers a convenient way to access their favorite content at any time. Consumers will also be able to access higher quality digital media on the Internet because content providers using DRM will be more willing to make such content widely available. Also, the DRM licensing scheme protects consumers from inadvertently pirating a file: Consumers can be confident that the digital media they receive is authentic material, and that they have acquired it in a legitimate manner. |
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