The international Digital Media Project (DMP) has achieved its first milestone by publishing its Phase I set of specifications.

The documents, posted on the DMP’s web page, contain a comprehensive technology specification for interoperable digital rights management (DRM) as well as applications within and across media value chains. The documents address Use Cases, DRM Architecture, Interoperable DRM Platform, Value-Chains, Registration Authorities and Terminology.

DMP is now working to complement the Phase I specifications with reference software and conformance guidelines. DMP intends to provide a license to use the reference software, ideally based on Open Source principles and which will at least permit private individuals, public institutions and commercial entities to improve and exploit the software. A conformance document will provide users with specifications to test the implementation.

The Phase I specifications target Portable Audio and Video applications. DMP is working to extend the specifications to support a broader range of applications based on interoperable DRM technologies, specifically Stationary Audio and Video applications. DMP plans to approve the Phase II set of specifications at its 8th General Assembly in Seoul (5-7 October 2005).

DMP recognises that Interoperable DRM, as the main digital media-enabling technology, has the potential to change many of the traditional usage rules and conventions prevalent in the pre-digital society, and issued a Call for Contributions on “Mapping of Traditional Rights and Usages to the Digital Space”.

By inviting people everywhere join in the development of an interoperable DRM that supports Traditional Rights and Usages, DMP offers businesses, consumers and society the potential for enhanced experiences that today’s proprietary DRM systems do not provide. The deadline for responses is 15th of July 2005.

The Digital Media Project (DMP) is a non-profit Association registered in Geneva, Switzerland. In accordance to its founding principles, DMP promotes the development, deployment, and use of digital media that safeguard the rights of creators to exploit their works, the wish of consumers to fully maximise the benefits of digital media, and the commercial interests of value-chain players to provide products and services.

Today’s DMP’s distinguished members span the globe and represent a cross section of academia, technology, and media. The DMP does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion or national origin. Any individual, partnership, corporation, governmental body or international organisation can join the DMP. DMP Member agree, both individually and collectively, to adhere to open competition in the development of digital audio-visual technologies, products or services.

DMP’s Board of Directors consists of Marina Bosi (MPEG LA, LLC - USA), Leonardo Chiariglione (CEDEO - Italy), Thomas Curran (Enterprise of the Future - USA), Ikuo Minakata (Matsushita Electric Industrial - Japan), Josι Neri (Sociedad Digital de Autores y Editores - Spain), Richard Nicol (British Telecom - UK), and Hiroshi Yasuda (University of Tokyo - Japan).

This release is posted online at: http://www.dmpf.org/project/ga06/pr.htm

From mi2n