A P2P Based Secure Digital Music Distribution Channel: The Next Generation

Abstract

This chapter presents a model enabling content providers to successfully sell digital music. We show that content providers must overcome three main hurdles to successfully sell digital music. The first is to establish an efficient and economically viable distribution channel. Second, they need to develop a secure and interoperable framework for protecting copyrighted digital music from piracy by integrating Digital Rights Management Systems into the distribution channel. The third hurdle is to set-up a robust payment mechanism that meets the content providers’ needs for revenue capturing and the consumers’ needs for hassle-free and legal content acquisition and usage. This chapter finally presents a DRM supported peer-to-peer network which could address and overcome the three hurdles. We conclude that a DRM supported P2P network gives content providers as well as consumers the secure, legal and most cost-efficient and user friendly digital distribution channel they have been searching for.