The Major Players, Partners In Digital-rights Management

The following is a list of companies involved with digital-rights management (DRM) and a select list of their music partners.

BASE TECHNOLOGIES

INTERTRUST TECHNOLOGIES
Headquarters: Santa Clara, Calif.
Operates a general-purpose DRM platform that serves as a foundation for providers of digital information, technology, and commerce services. InterTrust licenses its technology to partners that are currently building related services and applications.
Music partners: Universal Music Group, MusicMatch, BMG, Fraunhofer, Q Design, MIDEM, Pricewaterhouse-
Coopers (DigiHub).

MICROSOFT
Headquarters: Redmond, Wash.
Provides an embedded DRM solution, known as Rights Manager, in its operating system, to protect content sold/accessed via Windows Media formats.
Music partners: EMI, BMG, Warner Music, Sony, TVT Records, Atomic Pop, Musicmaker.com, Vidnet/Entertainment Boulevard, Liquid Audio, Tunes.
com, Virgin Megastore Online, CDnow's Cosmic Music Network, HOB.com, Raveworld Networks, Reciprocal.

IBM
Headquarters: White Plains, N.Y.
Operates Electronic Music Management System (EMMS)-an E-business solution for the sale and downloading of music. Components include a content mastering system, tools for hosting music content and promotional materials, and tools for online music retailers supporting the sale of digital music to consumers. EMMS also features a clearinghouse that tracks the sale of digital music content and manages access and usage privileges as designated by the music owner.
Music partners: RealNetworks, Sony, BMG, EMI, Warner Music, Universal, DMX Music/DMX Axis, Reciprocal, Liquid Audio.

SONY CORP.
Headquarters: Tokyo
Operates, through its electronics division, a copyright protection and DRM technology known as OpenMG. The technology allows music downloads through multiple electronic music distribution platforms, enables the playback of music files and CD ripping on PCs via the OpenMG Jukebox, and transfers contents securely from PCs to portable devices. Sony also operates MagicGate, a copyright protection technology for its "MG Memory Stick" and compliant products. MagicGate ensures that protected content is transferred only between compliant devices and media and that protected content is recorded and transferred in an encrypted format to prevent unauthorized copying or playback. In addition, the company has its own sound compression technology, or codec, called ATRAC3.
Music Partners: InterTrust Technologies Corp., Liquid Audio Inc., Preview Systems Inc., RealNetworks Inc., Reciprocal Inc., IBM, Microsoft, Warner Music Group.

INTEL
Headquarters: Santa Clara, Calif.
Operates the Intel Software Integrity System (ISIS)-an encryption/
protection software solution designed for developers of content distribution platforms. ISIS hides critical code, keys, and other secrets from observation and detects attempts to break security mechanisms.
Music Partners: Preview Systems, Supertracks, EMI Recorded Music.

LIQUID AUDIO
Headquarters: Redwood City, Calif.
Provides services and software that enable musicians, record labels, and music retailers to digitally deliver professional-quality music via the Internet. Liquid Audio offers solutions via its own proprietary network and also acts as a distributor/network for third-party formats.
Music partners: CDnow, BMG, Virgin JamCast, Musicmaker.com, Warner/Chappell, Rounder, Rykodisc, Atomic Pop, Billboard, MP3.com, IBM, Best Buy, Radio Intercast.


CLEARINGHOUSES/NETWORKS

PREVIEW SYSTEMS
Headquarters: Sunnyvale, Calif.
Develops and markets an E-commerce infrastructure solution based on Intel's ISIS DRM that enables networks to electronically distribute and license digital goods.
Music partners: EMI Music, Musicland, Supertracks, Urocket, Lucent (ePac), Sony, Intel.

RECIPROCAL
Headquarters: Buffalo, N.Y.
Provides DRM services, most notably clearinghouse solutions. Reciprocal is a platform-agnostic service that can clear transactions for InterTrust, Microsoft, and Sony DRMs.
Music partners: BMG/Digital World Services, Warner Music, Sony, Zomba, TVT Records, Amplified.com, RioPort, InterTrust, IBM, Microsoft.

DIGITAL WORLD SERVICES
Headquarters: New York
The DRM services arm of Bertelsmann AG. A joint venture of three Bertelsmann divisions-BMG Storage Media, Bertelsmann Multimedia, and Bertelsmann Services Group-Digital World Services offers end-to-end DRM solutions based on InterTrust and Re-ciprocal technology platforms.
Music partners: InterTrust, Reciprocal, BMG.

MAGEX
Headquarters: London
A digital commerce service developed by NatWest Group that specializes in transaction clearinghouse solutions based on the InterTrust technology platform.
Music partners: MusicMatch, Universal, RioPort.com.

DIGIHUB
Headquarters: New York
The DRM services arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Specializes in content and transaction clearinghouse functions based on the InterTrust technology platform.
Music Partners: InterTrust Technologies.

SUPERTRACKS
Headquarters: Portland, Ore.
A digital distribution services company specializing in clearinghouse solutions based on the Preview Systems platform. Supertracks focuses on complete E-commerce solutions and promotions to support the retailer.
Music partners: EMI, Musicland, Preview.