A privacy enabling content distribution framework for digital rights management

Digital rights management (DRM) technology has been employed to prevent illegal content consumption/redistribution. However, to achieve secure and authorised content distribution, DRM systems lose flexibility and create a serious threat to privacy. Additionally, traditional DRM models are two level distribution systems, which do not facilitate scalable content distribution. In this paper, we will propose a new content distribution framework for multiparty multilevel DRM system by employing the facility location technique. In it, authentication and payment is handled by the distributor while license server generates the license. This alleviates the license server workload and provides the opportunity to the distributor to create offers, promotions and discounts to promote the content. The adoption of independent payment collection and license generation authorities provides the way to monitor the correctness of content sell. Furthermore, the use of ring signature and pseudonym token in content distribution, protect users’ privacy without violating accountability parameters.