Sony Develops Copyright Protection Solutions for Digital Music Content
Proposes 'MagicGate,' 'OpenMG,' and 'Super MagicGate' Technologies
To SDMI, Industries
TOKYO, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Corporation today announced the
development of new copyright management technologies that could revolutionize
the way in which digital music content is delivered, used and enjoyed. The
company will promote the solutions to the music and technology industries and
propose them to the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI), an organization
created by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to study
various copyright protection technologies.
"As a company which has strong commitments to both electronics and
entertainment, Sony enthusiastically supports the mission of the Secure
Digital Music Initiative," said Ted Masaki, Deputy President of Sony
Corporation of America. "We respect the rights of artists and other copyright
holders and look forward to providing a comprehensive copyrights management
solution that will expand the entire audio market and offer our customers new
ways to enjoy digital music content."
"MagicGate" and "OpenMG"
Two new content protection technologies, tentatively called "MagicGate"
and "OpenMG" will provide an urgently needed immediate solution for protecting
digital music on personal computers and audio player/recorders that use
IC recording media such as the "Memory Stick."
"MagicGate" for IC Recording Media and Player/Recorders
"MagicGate" employs a microchip embedded in both the player/recorders and
media to ensure that protected content is transmitted only between compliant
devices and media. All content is transmitted and stored in an encrypted
format to prevent unauthorized copying, playback and transmission of protected
content.
"OpenMG" for PCs and Related Devices
"OpenMG" employs a hardware module and special software to encrypt digital
music content stored on a hard disk drive or similar storage device.
Authentication technology is used to ensure that protected content is
transmitted only to compliant devices and media, and all content is
transmitted in an encrypted format. This technology allows content to be
enjoyed on PCs, but prevents unauthorized copying, playback, or transmission.
"MagicGate" and "OpenMG" support the interchange of data between PCs and
compliant audio player/recorders, allowing digital music content can be
"moved" rather than copied while preventing unauthorized copying, playback,
and transmission. Sony will broadly license "MagicGate" and "OpenMG" to the
relevant industries. At the same time, it plans to implement them into
"Memory Stick" and PC related products.
"Super MagicGate"
As an extension of the above-mentioned near-term solution, Sony has
developed a secure electronic music distribution solution tentatively called
"Super MagicGate." It includes copyright management, electronic distribution,
content protection technologies for distributing digital music content
electronically over the Internet and other digital networks. As with
"MagicGate" and "OpenMG," Sony will propose "Super MagicGate" to the SDMI and
actively promote it to the relevant industries.
"Super MagicGate" employs network servers that handle content
distribution, secured payments and other functions as well as compliant
products, such as PCs, portable player/recorders, and IC recording media.
Features include:
(1) Authentication and Content Encryption
Before music content is transmitted between products, authentication
is conducted to ensure that both devices are compliant. If
authentication is successfully completed, protected content can then
be transferred between and recorded in an encrypted format. This
provides robust protection against the unauthorized accessing,
copying, and distributing of digital music content.
(2) Flexible Usage Settings
"Super MagicGate" accommodates flexible usage settings that give
content providers more choice in setting conditions under which
digital music content can be provided and enjoyed. For example,
promotional tracks could be limited to a single playback whereas other
content could be played back freely, a certain number of times, or
over a limited playback period.
(3) Active Rights Management
Usage and billing settings can be changed even after content has been
delivered. For example, users could choose to purchase a music track
after sampling it once for free or users could receive a limited
playback version of a song for upgrade to unlimited playback at a
later date.
(4) Off-line Usage Management
"Super MagicGate" provides for off-line tracking of usage and payment
information. This allows flexible content usage and active rights
management feature to be applied to content enjoyed on portable
player/recorders and products that are not directly connected to a
network.
Other Copyright Protection
The development of "MagicGate," "OpenMG," and "Super MagicGate" is just
one part of Sony's efforts to develop and implement appropriate copyright
protection technologies for various types of digital AV content.
Sony is also promoting the 5C DTCP (Digital Transmission Content
Protection) method, a bus encryption technology for use across the
i.LINK (IEEE1394) digital interface that supports existing copy protection and
serves as an important link in a secure digital content delivery chain that
can be used for a broad range of applications, including network, broadcast
and package media.
In addition, Sony supports the video watermarking technology for digital
content developed and promoted by the Galaxy Group. Video watermarks are
capable of surviving digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversions as
well as various types of video processing, including compression. This
versatile technology offers potential applications both as a playback control
mechanism and a means of identifying the origin of digital AV content.
Each of these technologies offers a different layer of protection that is
best suited to certain types of digital content and/or certain applications.
Sony intends to promote the adoption of various different copyright protection
measures to be used either separately or in combination.
SOURCE Sony Corporation
-0- 02/25/99
/CONTACT: Rick Clancy, 201-930-6909, or rick_clancy@mail.sel.sony.com, or
Mack Araki, 408-955-5673, or mack_araki@ccmail.sel.sony.com, both of
Sony Electronics Inc./
/Web site: sony.com
(SNE)
CO: Sony Corporation; Recording Industry Association of America
ST: California; Japan
IN: CPR ENT
SU: PDT
|
