La gestion des DRM en perspective

B- An integrated system : Windows Media DRM

The system conveyed by Microsoft, Windows Media Rights Manager (WMRM) is appreciably similar to the preceding example.

Figure 6: Windows Media DRM Structures^172(*)

The operation of the WMRM has as a principle of being able to read a file protected only after the user acquired a license containing a key allowing him « déprotéger » contents of the file so if it is a question of a song for example of being able to listen to it.

This key is stored in a encryptée license which will be distributed separately. Other information is added to the file as the URL where it is possible to acquire the license for the contents. The user connects himself then to the waiter of license to acquire the license necessary and to allow his authentification.

One includes/understands the stakes related to the supply, out of standard, of a system including/understanding one « player » such as Windows Media Player what is the case for Windows XP. European Commission A included/understood well besides, it which has just condemned Microsoft to carry out some changes : « With regard to the bound sales, Microsoft will have, within 90 day, to propose to the equipment suppliers a version of his operating system Windows for PC customers not including/understanding reader WMP. This corrective measurement, which puts a term at the bound sales, does not mean that the consumers will obtain PC and operating systems without multi-media reader. The consumers buy, for the majority, a PC with an equipment supplier who already grouped, for their account, an operating system and a multi-media reader. The effect of the corrective measurement ordered by the Commission will be that these grouped sales will be configured according to the wishes of the consumers, and not of choices imposed by Microsoft. Microsoft preserves the right to offer a version of its operating system Windows for PC equipped with reader WMP. It will have however to abstain from resorting to any commercial, technical or contractual means resulting in making less interesting or less powerful the nondependant version. In particular, it will not have to subordinate the reductions which it jointly grants to the equipment suppliers with their purchase of Windows with reader WMP ». ^173(*)

An innovation of the system of DRM from Microsoft recently was born : baptized « Janus », this system complementary to DRM integrated to WMP, allows inter alia, and in particular for the accessible digital components on line, to mark/tattoo the numerical files while applying to him « an indelible scratch date, even in the case of a transfer to a reader mp3, a secondary computer, etc Once this exceeded date, the file will become inoperative where that it is ».^174(*)

* ¹⁷² www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/wm7/drm/architecture.aspx

* ¹⁷³ Etienne Wery, Microsoft is condemned by the European Commission for abuse dominant position, 24 Mars 2004, www.droit-technologie.org/1_2.asp?actu_id=911

* ¹⁷⁴ Microsoft reveals its technology anti-hacking, Atelier groups BNP Paribas - 03/05/2004 www.atelier.fr/  ; Microsoft introduces time into the security of the audio-visual files, 05/05/2004,

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