JamieG Analysis

Adobe is releasing the specification to the (RTMP) protocols that flash player uses.  In a nut shell.

“… developers will be free to use their own technological measures to secure content. The RTMP specification does not provide any requirement or restrictions on a developer’s own measures to secure content.”

See the full Adobe release here.

This is unexpected news as it means open source implementations of DRM type service will now be possible.  This greatly reduces the value of the the Flash Media Server and Adobe DRM-server, tho open source servers such as RED5, have already been ready to fill this space.

Unfortunately, in my mind, there may still be a big hole in all this development.  Being able to make the RTMP packets for the secure interface build into Flash is one thing.  A more interesting development would be the capability to sit in between the encrypted file and the video decoder.  This would allow progressive streaming, as done with most video providers such as YouTube, but with custom encrypted data. This would allow distributors to easily write a custom decoder in the Flash player.  However, it is not clear if this announcement makes this possible.

Example.

• Server has AES128bit encrypted video data with some tweaking to make it unique to that distributor.
• End user accesses the file using typical progressive download with offset capabilities. (Like YouTube)
• End user uses custom Flash video player that can decode the custom encrypted content.
• Flash player then has direct access to the H.264 codec in the Flash player.
• The end user has typical video experience we all use and understand today, however, the content cannot be viewed outside of the control of the distributor.
• This system can also be used with Adobe-AIR and media files based on local hard drive.

This is not a bullet proof DRM, but it will stop most people and at the same time, be cheap to implement and as cheap as it comes for distribution.  Anyone capable of bypassing this type of DRM is likely capable of bypassing even the most expensive DRM.  As every distributor can easily write their own custom DRM, it also means if  a distributor person has their system bypassed, it does not effect you with your custom version.

It is important to look at this with an eye to the future.  DRM content is definitely NOT the future for most content, however, custom content with neche appeal is likely to maximise the ROI utilising some of there techniques.  DRM is not completely dead, its just growing up and should only be applied when it actually does work for a specific business model.

It is simply more apparent now, those business models and not common.