CRUS is starting to announce, building up to the SXSW show starting March 10. Much more to be announced at this show including new music players. Do we have some happy investors or what? Stayed tuned ....
Cirrus Logic and InterTrust Launch Hardware/Software Solution That Enables Secure Internet Distribution for Billion-Dollar Music Industry
With Patent-Pending On-Chip Security and Embedded InterTrust(R) Software, New Maverick(TM) Chips Exceed Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) Specifications for Internet Audio
FREMONT and SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2, 2000-- Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq:CRUS - news), a leading supplier of Internet audio chip technology, and InterTrust Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq:ITRU - news), the MetaTrust Utility(TM), today announced the first general-purpose, content-secure system-on-chips (SOCs) for Internet audio players that support MP3 and Windows Media Audio.
Through a unique combination of Cirrus Logic's patent-pending chip technology and InterTrust's Rights/PD digital rights management (DRM) software, the new Maverick chip solutions exceed all current Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) specifications.
Addressing industry concerns to protect audio copyrights while harnessing the power of the Internet, the new chips could play a key role in enabling the billion dollar global music market to securely distribute its products via the World Wide Web.
The existing ``Maverick' EP7209 SOC, currently shipping in second generation Internet audio devices, is the first chip to broadly support InterTrust Rights/PD(TM) software to manage and protect digital content. Expressly optimized for portable devices (PD), the Rights/PD software permits portable digital audio players to fully satisfy and exceed the SDMI requirements.
Digital content may be securely transferred from a PC to a portable device and used only as permitted by content-owner or distributor-specified rules. The rights management is also scalable, allowing for the persistent protection of digital information of all types, and support for simple to complex business models.
By embedding the InterTrust software, the Maverick EP7209 offers the most secure solution for digital content available on the market today. Existing EP7209 customers can upgrade their chips with an InterTrust software update.
Hard-Wired Security
Building on the software security of the EP7209, Cirrus Logic will offer the EP7339 with Maverick Lock(TM) Technology -- a breakthrough solution that includes patent-pending Cirrus Logic circuitry. Targeted specifically at Internet music players, the EP7339 will be the first chip to provide hard-wired support for InterTrust's decryption and digital rights management (DRM) software.
Moreover, the Maverick Lock technology includes on-chip security features such as a unique built-in SDMI ID, hidden private keys, automatic verification of a secure environment, and automatic disabling of debug and test interfaces.
Designed to be MetaTrust-Certified(TM), Maverick Lock hardware and software innovations provide the next level of security against digital theft. Samples will be available in the second quarter, and third-generation audio products using this new processor should appear on retail shelves this fall 2000.
Since it is software- and pin-compatible with the existing EP7209, the EP7339 with Maverick Lock Technology provides a solid upgrade path for manufacturers incorporating DRM in current and future products. The two single-chip solutions leapfrog existing multi-chip solutions for digital security, offering a more effective safeguard for preventing Internet theft of rights-protected audio content. The Maverick Lock technology can ultimately be applied to protect all types of content, not just audio, ensuring strong protection against the increasingly sophisticated Internet threats.
``The EP7339 with Maverick Lock Technology provides the type of hardware security typically found only in special-purpose government or military products,' said Olin Sibert, vice president, Strategic Technologies, InterTrust Technologies Corporation. ``Hardware-based security is a major step in addressing the increasingly sophisticated threats we can expect in the future. With Maverick Lock technology, security isn't added on, it's built in.'
A Milestone in Internet Audio
Although Internet audio has rocketed from obscurity to one of the fastest-growing markets in the history of consumer electronics, the need for digital rights management is seen as a key requirement for achieving mainstream consumer adoption.
``Close collaboration with InterTrust and leading manufacturers enabled us to produce a solution that will unleash Internet audio,' said Matthew Perry, vice president and general manager, Cirrus Logic's Embedded Processors Division. ``The recording industry will be able to safely deliver copyrighted music via the web, consumers will be able to purchase audio content without fearing their private transactions will become public, and manufacturers can readily generate substantial revenue streams from sales of 'trusted' players.'
``Offering music to consumers through a range of portable devices that comply with SDMI standards is today's issue,' said Tony Schaller, senior vice president of technology and CTO for RioPort, Inc. ``We want the ability to offer software solutions and content that provide broad compatibility and simplicity for the consumer. The InterTrust, RioPort and Cirrus Logic products help to ensure top quality content is available to consumers in a seamless, secure manner.'
``The standards for digital content security are continually being raised and Cirrus Logic is in a leading position to deliver hardware-enabled security to the market first,' said Chris Smith, program manager DVD and Portable Audio, Creative Labs. ``Creative believes this level of security is vital for the increasingly sophisticated audio and entertainment market. As an InterTrust partner, we applaud the advances Cirrus Logic's Maverick technology will bring.'
``As a device manufacturer, Diamond Multimedia is encouraged by this announcement because it will result in more content for consumers,' said Mike Reed, director of marketing at S3's Diamond Multimedia communications division. ``Getting a processor that embeds the InterTrust DRM technology is an important milestone in the evolution of digital audio.'
``With the Maverick security solutions, appliance manufacturers, content providers, and software vendors can get to market with technology that goes beyond merely complying with existing SDMI requirements,' said Talal Shamoon, SVP, Media, InterTrust Technologies Corporation. ``The Cirrus Logic and InterTrust collaboration will set the standard for portable devices that support leading edge digital commerce.' |
