IT Governance, Risk, and Compliance » World Trade Organization

Digital Rights Management – Part IV

Robert Davis — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:33:40 +0000

IPR protection requirements shape complex and challenging management issues. Audio and visual material protection is especially problematic due to the existence of the various known vulnerabilities, and there are even suggestions that effective DRM is logically impossible. Common techniques for audio and video file infringement include unlawful interception, decryption, reverse engineering, authentication manipulation, and analog format capture. Therefore, additional information asset protection mechanisms are required to ensure adequate safeguarding controls, such as instituting continuous security improvement plans for IPR information.

“View Part I of the Digital Rights Management series here“

Digital Rights Management – Part III

Robert Davis — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:40:49 +0000

DRM software is generally considered an access control technology deployed to limit unauthorized usage. However, arguably, a technology cannot in principle, know what legal restrictions and rights apply in a specific jurisdiction, allowable usage context, contractual conditions, or the individual author, owner, or publisher without human intervention. Therefore, as with other information assets protection related software, vulnerabilities may exist that can be exploited by unscrupulous or curious individuals.

Even if adequate IPR security protection is deployed, based on the laws of judgmental probability, widely-used DRM systems eventually yield to hackers and crackers intent on defeating or circumventing deployed access controls. Supporting this projected outcome is Internet advertised software allowing DRM circumvention. Nevertheless, those with an interest in preserving DRM systems have attempted to initiate proceeding restricting the distribution and development of information piracy enabled software.

“View Part I of the Digital Rights Management series here“

Digital Rights Management – Part II

Robert Davis — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:44:23 +0000

Intellectual property protection has ushered in an era of technological solutions that attempt to prevent asserted rights infringement. Digital Rights Management (DRM) can be considered a response to legal requirements which criminalize the production and dissemination of technology that allows individuals to circumvent technical copy-restriction methods. Specifically, as a preventive control, DRM software usually manages the downloading of sound files, movies, and other copyrighted materials through diverse security features. Globally, DRM systems have received international legal reinforcement through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) national implementations.

“View Part I of the Digital Rights Management series here“