Vendors handwave through new digital rights specification

Digital rights management has long been controversial, but there is a new entity that claims it can smooth the barbs that surround this nexus of content management and ownership. Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem LLC--a group of almost 60 content providers, which joined forces in January--will soon be testing a new DRM standard called UltraViolet.

According to the cross-industry coalition, the updated model will give consumers access to movies and television shows on any device in any format. "The UltraViolet experience will be powered by a cloud-based UltraViolet Account, which will include a Digital Rights Locker and account management functionality," said the group.

"Consumers will be able to create an UltraViolet Account, free of charge, via one of the many participating UltraViolet service providers or through the UltraViolet website. Once created, this account will allow consumers to easily access and manage all of their UltraViolet entertainment, regardless of where it was purchased."

So, what could possibly go wrong? Well, the group's press release went on to say that "technical specifications and licensing details for companies who wish to offer UltraViolet content, services and devices, are expected this year." 

To anyone with content housed on Laserdisc, Betamax, HD, DAT or eight-track player, those words are enough to strike terror into their hearts.

It's worth noting that neither Disney nor Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is a member of the group. "Disney is attempting to come up with its own digital locker system called 'KeyChest' that seeks to accomplish roughly the same thing," noted the Associated Press.

Surely, the high-definition television format wars showed the industry that no specification can succeed without the support of two content providers: Disney and the porn industry. And when they decided to support Blu-ray, that marked the end of the HD format.

No word from the porn industry yet on which format it plans to support.

For more:
- see the press release
- see this Computerworld article
- see this Wall Street Journal article

Related Articles:
Survey finds more companies investing in rights management
O'Reilly releases DRM-free eBook bundles
Yahoo to close its music store