Adobe Announces DRM for Downloads

Written by Ryan Lawler

Thursday, September 10. 2009 at 11:55 AM EDT 1 comment

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Adobe Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: ADBE) is adding a new digital rights management (DRM) component to its Flash video technology that will allow users to download and watch content in-browser even when not connected to the Internet.

Adobe Flash Access 2.0, which is a rebranded version of the company's Flash Media Rights Management Server, will allow content owners to encrypt and deliver videos content to the browser, something that existing Flash DRM doesn't support.

The new DRM scheme will be supported by an upcoming version of the Adobe Flash player, and will enable Adobe to support a wider variety of business models, including electronic sell-through, rental, and on-demand for streaming or for download.

The new DRM technology is expected to be launched in the first half of 2010, and will be available in two configurations: as a standalone server or as part of a software development kit (SDK) that larger media companies can integrate into their existing workflows.

The news comes just a few days after Microsoft made a similar announcement about its competing Silverlight video platform and PlayReady DRM technology. Previewing upcoming technology at IBC this week, Microsoft said that the next version of Silverlight -- Silverlight 4.0 -- would support PlayReady DRM in or out of the browser and on or offline, which would enable content providers to offer a Silverlight viewing experience and protect their videos, whether they be streamed or download to a PC or other device.

In both cases, the software companies seem to be targeting laptop PC and mobile device users that could choose to stream a certain piece of content when online or choose to download that content for on-the-go viewing.

Adobe has been particularly aggressive about getting its Flash technology embedded onto consumer electronics devices, with a couple of announcements that system-on-chip (SoC) vendors Broadcom Corp. (Nasdaq: BRCM), Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC), and Sigma Designs Inc. (Nasdaq: SIGM) were integrating Flash into their chips for devices in the digital home.