Digital Rights Management - DRM

[cd34]

For protecting .wmv, yeah, Microsoft doesn't like to support other platforms. Something about a lack of a revenue stream.

Helix (real network's spinoff opensource code) does support DRM on multiple platforms including embedded processes. But then, you'd have to use RealMedia codecs which some people dislike.

Apple does have their AAC container which can be wrapped around quicktime movies, but, I haven't seen any publically available DRM solution from them, unless you count ITunes.

So, DRM for .wmv pretty much requires Microsoft's Windows Media Player. For linux, you can run it in Crossoffice/Wine. As for Mac, I don't think there is a freebsd emulator/api other than vmware, at which point you're running windows anyhow.

[Barron]

Originally Posted by cd34

For protecting .wmv, yeah, Microsoft doesn't like to support other platforms. Something about a lack of a revenue stream.

Helix (real network's spinoff opensource code) does support DRM on multiple platforms including embedded processes. But then, you'd have to use RealMedia codecs which some people dislike.

Apple does have their AAC container which can be wrapped around quicktime movies, but, I haven't seen any publically available DRM solution from them, unless you count ITunes.

So, DRM for .wmv pretty much requires Microsoft's Windows Media Player. For linux, you can run it in Crossoffice/Wine. As for Mac, I don't think there is a freebsd emulator/api other than vmware, at which point you're running windows anyhow.

I'm pretty much stuck with windows media player, that Im sure of, but that isnt a bad thing. I just dont want to use Windows SQL server for the keys. I was hoping for a solution for MySQL to serve the keys.

Your right on Quicktime, I found nothing on it except for itunes.

[cd34]

Originally Posted by Barron

I just dont want to use Windows SQL server for the keys. I was hoping for a solution for MySQL to serve the keys.

DRM is supposed to talk with an ODBC compliant database. MySQL will talk ODBC, however, I think that Microsoft's DRM does a check with the vendor header in the packets and prevents using non Microsoft software in their solution. There also used to be a restriction that the DRM server could not be the same machine as the MSSql machine.

I believe all of Microsoft's DRM implementations specify a dual server setup, however, I cannot find anything on their site that states that anymore.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/drm/

[Barron]

I'm not as informed on Microsoft products as I should be. The requirement I read on Microsofts websites says that a "Windows Server 2003" is required. I assume thats for the SQL. If IIS will run on Server 2003, I dont think two severs is neccessary, but I will look into it.

Nice heads up, thanks : )

[ArtWilliams]

Originally Posted by cd34

So, DRM for .wmv pretty much requires Microsoft's Windows Media Player. For linux, you can run it in Crossoffice/Wine. As for Mac, I don't think there is a freebsd emulator/api other than vmware, at which point you're running windows anyhow.

I believe you can use mPlayer to view but not copy these types of files. mPlayer is available for both Linux and Windows ... Art