On2 Technologies and Widevine have partnered to provide consumers with digital rights management capabilities, allowing users to protect the distribution and use of content on Adobe's Flash Video Player 8 and 9. On2Technologies, Inc. and Widevine Technologies announced today that they have partnered up to secure On2's VP 6 for Flash Video, providing users with digital rights management capabilities and copy protection functionality that allow them to secure the distribution and use of content that is sent to PCs and other devices.
VP 6 is a video compression technology that enables users to compress high-definition material and produce high-resolution videos while also featuring error recovery options, support for several platforms such as Intel, Equator, TI, ARM and PowerPC and advanced error recovery options. VP 6 for flash is also a video format that is used on Internet video sites, user-generated content sites and social-networking sites, such as ABC, CBS, ESPN, Fox and MTV.
"Content-owner requirements for copyright protection are only part of the reason driving the need for content security," Brian Baker, CEO for the Seattle-based Widevine, said in a statement.
With the collaboration between On2 and Widevine, a provider of content protection platforms, VP 6 for Adobe Flash Player 8 and 9 will now feature DRM capabilities that help secure linear broadcast, VOD (video-on-demand), file downloads and streamed media.
"The launch of On2's VP6 product line for Flash with Widevine's security features offers the Internet entertainment industry a solution that enables operators to securely deliver content with a single content-protection solution that maintains advertising integrity and consumption verification," Baker said.
The partnership also calls for the secure platform to be used in On2's Flix for Flash encoding and publishing product line, starting with Flix Engine and Flix Engine Live, which allows users to encode their intranet, Web site and other server-based applications while also supporting Adobe Flash 8 video, allowing users to convert their video, audio and image files to On2 VP6 for Flash technology.
"It will broaden the types of services and amount of content that becomes available in Flash video format," Sam Vasisht, vice president of marketing for the Tarrytown, N.Y., On2 Technologies, told eWEEK.
The companies have not yet announced when the joint platform will be available but that the pricing will be incremental to existing products. The two companies will be demonstrating the platform at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show being held in Las Vegas next week from April 16-19.
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