Vendors in Content Reference Forum Offer Contextual Framework for DRM
The Content Reference Forum (CRF), established by a group of media of technology firms including ARM, ContentGuard, Macrovision, Microsoft, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, Universal Music Group and VeriSign, has announced the release of new specifications to guide the content industry in the development of standards for digital rights managment implementation. The core baseline specification [PDF in .ZIP file] being proposed by the CRF is oriented towards consumer multimedia purchases, but includes in its XML-based metadata and schema numerous contextual hooks that should be of great interest to all content creators, marketers and consumers, including content identification and description, commercial environment, technical environment, value chain participation and content reference resolution. Of particular interest is the inclusion of a value chain entity, which in theory can represent the interests of multiple parties playing a role in content sales and redistribution - including, in theory, end-users making purchases who may have redistribution rights. It's often the case that these kinds of standards, while nobly intended, collapse under the weight of interests trying to wrestle them into being, but as a starting point the CRF has created a very powerful tool that should be expanded over time to accomodate a wider range of content types and commercial models.