Beyond Web Intermediaries: A Framework for Securing Digital Content on Client Systems

Cafes as a result of contents allowed through their networks is a welcome development in the fight against copyright violations and piracy of digital contents. Beyond this however, experts must also realize that consumers of content have unguided opportunities to exploit digital content for undue gains once placed at their disposals. This is particularly possible as a result of the intrinsic properties of digital contents when compared to analog contents such as newspapers and transmissions from satellite cable stations. For example, multiple replications of digital contents can be carried out in the comfort of a client's home using modern technologies such as CD-R/W or burners without degradation in quality. To counter this threats, new security technologies are required that persistently protect content throughout its lifetime. Conditional Access Systems (CAS) has been used to protect content delivered over cables. We present a framework for an analogous protection system for digital content on client systems as a viable technique for protecting digital content that have passed through Internet intermediaries.