Protecting Intellectual Property in Digital Multimedia Networks

R ecent advances in digital communications and storage technologies have brought major changes for consumers. Magnetic and optical storage capacity, for example, is much higher today than it was a few years ago. Today’s basic personal computer system has 40 Gbytes of magnetic hard disk storage, and, although a DVD (digital versatile disk) is the same physical size as a CD, it’s faster and can store much more audiovisual data in optical form—from 4 to 17 Gbytes (two to eight hours of video). Moreover, Internet connection speeds are much faster. Cable modems and asymmetric digital subscriber lines dominate the industry. The emerging very high bit-rate DSL (VDSL) connection, with speeds of up to 52 Mbps, will provide sufficient bandwidth for entertainment networks. These improvements in computers and communications networks are radically changing the economics of intellectual property reproduction and distribution. IP owners can exploit new ways to reproduce, distribute, and market their IP. A major problem with current digital distribution and storage technologies, however, is the formidable threat of piracy.