 |
|
   |
|
|
 |
Digital Rights Management May Issue Roxanne "The Expert" Singleton As many of you know, the Openwave Developer Network has been running a contest for iPods when you register on our web site. My iPod™ is one of my guilty techie pleasures. I love downloading music from iTunes—I can't believe how easy it is and I really appreciate being able to buy just what I want and when I want (nothing like shopping for Train at 1am when I need a distraction). I also get excited thinking about how the process of content management -- that happens behind the scenes at iTunes -- is exploding in the mobile market as well. And that leads to this month's question which raises many of the issues you face if you are developing applications that rely on licensed content. The question: Everyone's talking about digital rights management. How do I make sure that the content I develop is protected so I can develop applications for premium content brands, like Disney and Sony? This is a great question. Digital Rights Management, or DRM, is certainly a hot topic. It is important because it protects the content and ensures the value chain - the developers, copyright owners and operators - each get their cut of the fees (while keeping the public honest) and prevents the average user from inadvertently sharing and breaking the law. If you want to be able to develop applications that use licensed content (think Bugs Bunny, The Simpsons, or Spiderman, etc.) you must be able to guarantee to the brand owner that you can account for every transaction that utilizes the content because there are dollars attached to every transaction. That means you need a way to track and report usage ensures that content is not improperly distributed (think old Napster, Kazaa, etc.) and that you get paid every time your application is used. The good news is that while it sounds complicated, thanks to evolving technology it is easier than ever - you don't need to do a single thing to have your content protected. Openwave has been successfully deploying the Openwave Download Manger (ODM) around the world. It offers a complete download solution that manages the purchase and delivery of content including Java applications, ring tones, images, games and more-to mobile devices that handle all of our developers' content. It includes a full DRM solution that ensures content and its rights holders are protected from unauthorized use. And in the spirit of Openwave's position of supporting open standards, ODM fully supports the OMA DRM 1.0 standard, which allows users to legally share content, without you having to do a single thing to protect your content. The platform does all the DRM for you! The platform also supports advanced features, including subscription plans, gifting, rewards and product bundling that maximizes revenue and encourages usage and user adoption. If you are working with an operator that serves your content, make sure you ask them about DRM and the platform they are using to manage it. If they don't have a solution or are having problems, you may want to recommend they use the Openwave Download Manager! If you have been developing applications and/or dealing with DRM issues, I'd love to hear from you. We are interested in writing a few stories about developers like you, in the trenches, building applications using licensed content. Drop me a line and let me know what you are up to. In the meantime, we are getting ready for JavaOne. More on that next month! Roxanne has been working as an application developer for over 10 years. Her goal is to successfully write this column without having to join the marketing team or sit on the top floor with the execs. Roxy recently sold her vintage Motorola brick phone on eBay for $15. If you have a general question you'd like answered or just want us to know what's on your mind, let her know. Or, for more detailed or specific technical support questions, please visit ODN Developer Support. |