TIRAMISU: A novel approach to content representation and key management for seamless super-distribution of protected media

Media delivery over heterogeneous networks requires both flexible representation and robust protection of content. This paper provides details on the framework for audiovisual content creation, delivery, consumption and protection as conceived within the IST project The Innovative Rights and Access Management Interplatform SolUtion. The proposed framework is based on the emerging MPEG-21 standard for multimedia content delivery and consumption and at the same time it complements it in several aspects, most notably by fully specifying a digital rights management (DRM) scheme. Central to the described framework is a novel key management system, relying on smartcards, which addresses many issues that previously blocked wider adoption of DRM: obtrusiveness of the DRM technology perceived by the end-user, flexibility in licence formulation and adequate level of trust as requested by content owners.