ContentGuard Releases XrML 2.0

ContentGuard Releases New Version of Digital Rights Language, XrML 2.0, and Proposes It to Standards Bodies

Support for Web Services, Release of Software Developer's Kit Also Move XrML Closer to Becoming Industry Standard for Rights Language

Bethesda, MD, USA. November 26, 2001.

ContentGuard, Inc., the leading provider of Digital Rights Language technology, has launched version 2.0 of its Extensible rights Markup Language (XrML), which broadens the range of business models available to digital content and Web Services providers. ContentGuard has also released a Software Developer's Kit to enable developers to build XrML-based Digital Rights Management (DRM) solutions quickly and easily.

ContentGuard also confirmed today that it will hand control of XrML to an international standards organization. The company is currently in discussions with several standards organizations about accepting this governance role. By allowing the governance and development of XrML to be managed by an independent body, ContentGuard is seeking to open up XrML's future development to broad industry participation. ContentGuard also plans to propose XrML 2.0 to any standards organization seeking a Rights Language. Within the last week such proposals have been made to MPEG-21 and TV Anytime.

XrML, the most comprehensive and advanced Digital Rights Language in the world, is based on years of research at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), which invented the rights expression language concept. XrML is currently the only Rights Language being used in working DRM solutions, including DRM solutions from Microsoft.

"The DRM industry is seeing vendors and content providers examining how best to leverage the potential of digital content and related Web Services," said Michael Miron, co-chairman and CEO of ContentGuard. "We believe that the availability of standard, foundation technologies, such as the XrML 2.0, will accelerate digital content distribution and Web Services initiatives by alleviating the concerns of being restricted to a technology platform, a business model, a media type, a format, a proprietary solution or a particular vendor."

XrML 2.0 expands the capabilities of a Digital Rights Language -- usually thought of in connection with authorized use of protected digital content -- to now also allow developers to establish the rights and conditions needed to access various Web Services. As part of a trusted environment, XrML can be used to apply rights to a wide variety of content and services to enable custom tailoring of digital offerings. For example, a Financial Services company can expand its online products from simple password access to customized and personalized offerings that combine services and content such as portfolio analysis, real time video, on-line consulting, or research reports. Each offering can use different rights (e.g., view, save, forward), conditions (e.g., free, fee based, limited time) and delivery methods (e.g., downloaded, streamed, ASP). New services with specific rights can be added to individuals or user groups through use of XrML. The XrML 2.0 specification is available free at http://www.xrml.org.

"Microsoft has been using XrML since its inception, and we look forward to expanding the use of XrML in the future," said Will Poole, vice president, New Media Platforms Division for Microsoft. "The open interoperability offered by XrML is vital to the success and rapid innovation of the many content security efforts throughout the industry."

The XrML 2.0 SDK allows developers to quickly and easily build XrML-based applications for commercial use in various hardware and software products. XrML 2.0 is extensible and fully compliant with XML namespaces using XML schema technology. In addition, XrML 2.0 extensions can be designed for specific industries or with the inclusion of other elements, such as resource-level metadata standards like ONIX. The XrML 2.0 SDK is available for download at http://www.contentguard.com.

About XrML

XrML, the language for digital rights management, is a universal method for specifying rights and conditions associated with the use and protection of digital content and services. Originally developed at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), the specification facilitates the creation of an open architecture for rights management of digital content and can be easily integrated with both existing and new DRM systems. XrML is available to the industry and is supported by patents related to the use of a Digital Rights Language. Various technology leaders, content owners, publishers, e-tailers and clearinghouses have announced their support for XrML. For more information about XrML please visit http://www.xrml.org.

About ContentGuard, Inc.

ContentGuard, Inc. is driving the standard for interoperability in Digital Content Distribution and Web Services. The company's Digital Rights Language, XrML™ (eXtensible rights Markup Language&trade), and its broad foundation patent portfolio were originally developed at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). These core technologies enable the efficient creation of DRM applications, simplify the digital distribution process and increase revenue opportunities for content providers deploying varied business models, while protecting their intellectual property. ContentGuard is driving the adoption of XrML as an industry standard to empower the industry to create a consistent, standardized foundation for access and usage rights information. Launched in April 2000, ContentGuard conducts its operations in Bethesda, Md., and El Segundo, Calif. The company is owned by Xerox Corporation, with Microsoft Corporation holding a minority position. For more information, please visit www.contentguard.com.

Note to Editors: ContentGuard is a registered trademark and XrML and eXtensible Rights Markup Language are trademarks of ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. All other company and product trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:

Text 100 [for ContentGuard, Inc.]
Gina Giachetti
Tel: 415/593-8432
Email: ginag@text100.com

Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive. See the news item "ContentGuard Releases XrML Version 2.0 and Submits Specification to Standards Bodies."

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ContentGuard has also released a Software Developer's Kit to enable developers to build XrML-based Digital Rights Management (DRM) solutions quickly and easily. ContentGuard also confirmed today that it will hand control of XrML to an international standards organization. The company is currently in discussions with several standards organizations about accepting this governance role. By allowing the governance and development of XrML to be managed by an independent body, ContentGuard is seeking to open up XrML's future development to broad industry participation. ContentGuard also plans to propose XrML 2.0 to any standards organization seeking a Rights Language. Within the last week such proposals have been made to MPEG-21 and TV Anytime. XrML, the most comprehensive and advanced Digital Rights Language in the world, is based on years of research at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), which invented the rights expression language concept. XrML is currently the only Rights Language being used in working DRM solutions, including DRM solutions from Microsoft. "The DRM industry is seeing vendors and content providers examining how best to leverage the potential of digital content and related Web Services," said Michael Miron, co-chairman and CEO of ContentGuard. "We believe that the availability of standard, foundation technologies, such as the XrML 2.0, will accelerate digital content distribution and Web Services initiatives by alleviating the concerns of being restricted to a technology platform, a business model, a media type, a format, a proprietary solution or a particular vendor." XrML 2.0 expands the capabilities of a Digital Rights Language -- usually thought of in connection with authorized use of protected digital content -- to now also allow developers to establish the rights and conditions needed to access various Web Services. As part of a trusted environment, XrML can be used to apply rights to a wide variety of content and services to enable custom tailoring of digital offerings. For example, a Financial Services company can expand its online products from simple password access to customized and personalized offerings that combine services and content such as portfolio analysis, real time video, on-line consulting, or research reports. Each offering can use different rights (e.g., view, save, forward), conditions (e.g., free, fee based, limited time) and delivery methods (e.g., downloaded, streamed, ASP). New services with specific rights can be added to individuals or user groups through use of XrML. The XrML 2.0 specification is available free at http://www.xrml.org. "Microsoft has been using XrML since its inception, and we look forward to expanding the use of XrML in the future," said Will Poole, vice president, New Media Platforms Division for Microsoft. "The open interoperability offered by XrML is vital to the success and rapid innovation of the many content security efforts throughout the industry." The XrML 2.0 SDK allows developers to quickly and easily build XrML-based applications for commercial use in various hardware and software products. XrML 2.0 is extensible and fully compliant with XML namespaces using XML schema technology. In addition, XrML 2.0 extensions can be designed for specific industries or with the inclusion of other elements, such as resource-level metadata standards like ONIX. The XrML 2.0 SDK is available for download at http://www.contentguard.com. About XrML XrML, the language for digital rights management, is a universal method for specifying rights and conditions associated with the use and protection of digital content and services. Originally developed at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), the specification facilitates the creation of an open architecture for rights management of digital content and can be easily integrated with both existing and new DRM systems. XrML is available to the industry and is supported by patents related to the use of a Digital Rights Language. Various technology leaders, content owners, publishers, e-tailers and clearinghouses have announced their support for XrML. For more information about XrML please visit http://www.xrml.org. About ContentGuard, Inc. ContentGuard, Inc. is driving the standard for interoperability in Digital Content Distribution and Web Services. The company's Digital Rights Language, XrML™ (eXtensible rights Markup Language&trade), and its broad foundation patent portfolio were originally developed at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). These core technologies enable the efficient creation of DRM applications, simplify the digital distribution process and increase revenue opportunities for content providers deploying varied business models, while protecting their intellectual property. ContentGuard is driving the adoption of XrML as an industry standard to empower the industry to create a consistent, standardized foundation for access and usage rights information. Launched in April 2000, ContentGuard conducts its operations in Bethesda, Md., and El Segundo, Calif. The company is owned by Xerox Corporation, with Microsoft Corporation holding a minority position. For more information, please visit www.contentguard.com. Note to Editors: ContentGuard is a registered trademark and XrML and eXtensible Rights Markup Language are trademarks of ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. All other company and product trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Contact: Text 100 [for ContentGuard, Inc.] Gina Giachetti Tel: 415/593-8432 Email: ginag@text100.com Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive. See the news item "ContentGuard Releases XrML Version 2.0 and Submits Specification to Standards Bodies."