[Paper Overview] [DRM-Workshop Homepage]
Bruce D. Bridges, Vaughn Iverson
We believe that W3C's interest in DRM is timely. W3C should focus on the semantics for the description of rights associated with Web resources.
By focusing on the creation of an interoperable DRM rights description language a horizontal framework for digitally distributed content with the following properties can be enabled:
The infrastructure should encourage competition and not limit innovation by imposing specific technology choices.
The framework must make it possible (and, ideally, easy) to add support for next-generation technologies and emerging business models, as well as to enhance existing solutions.
The framework should work across diverse platforms, operating systems, and codecs. It should also be applicable to a variety of content formats.
With an open-policy architecture, the framework should allow rights to be associated with content in a manner that allows a variety of new uses and new business models. This will facilitate innovation of content and services, flexibility to evolve new business models, and allow vendors to create and capture value and differentiate their offerings. Should facilitate balancing the rights of copyright owners with consumer's rights of fair use and privacy.
Note that this approach is very different from having a single comprehensive DRM standard that defines how everything is supposed to work. Rather, this is simply a framework that allows individual vendors to plug in their technologies and innovate. It aims to accelerate the growth of digitally distributed content while promoting interoperability, protection of copyrights, and providing consumers with choice, convenience, ease of use and a diversity of experiences.