DECE will exclude DRM in common format

Members of the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) today said they have agreed on key points behind their promised universal media access strategy. The coalition has come to a deal on a common file format that will work across the hardware and software of every participating member. Among proprietary formats, the group has picked Adobe's Flash Access, CMLA-OMA, Marlin, Microsoft's PlayReady and Widevine as officially supported by the system.

The digital rights "locker" key to the system is also now in development by Neustar, according to the companies involved. When finished, the locker will be accessible from any DECE-supporting app or device and grant permission to download or stream content as long as the purchasing or rental rights allow it.

Full technical details of the universal format and how DECE works should be available within the first half of the year, though it remains uncertain when the implementation will be ready for the public.

In its tentative form, DECE notably excludes Apple, Amazon and others that have their own protection systems. Apple has advocated for more universal availability of content but has said it prefers to eliminate DRM altogether rather than settle on a widespread copy protection standard, which creates more widespread security risks and still excludes those who don't license the copy protection scheme.

By Electronista Staff