Irdeto to provide security for Logitech Google TV box

Content security specialist Irdeto has been chosen to provide content security technology in the form of its Cloakware product to enable the delivery of premium content to the Logitech Revue with Google TV.

Logitech will use Irdeto’s Cloakware embedded security technology to deliver premium services via apps including Netflix Watch, the US DVR rental outfit’s online movie streaming service. Netflix is already an Irdeto customer, using Cloakware as part of the set of content protection tools it uses to deliver its services to a range of devices.

“What’s significant is that when premium content owners want to be on these devices they look to security and a mechanism to make sure business models can be upheld,” Jan Steenkamp, vice-president, Americas, Irdeto, told DTVE Daily.

David Vogel, director of strategic accounts at Irdeto said the company had worked with the “platform ecosystem” partners to ensure that security requirements of content partners were met. Cloakware provides software-based security for DRM systems, ensuring that their rules-setting function is protected.

Irdeto’s win with Logitech is the first major security-related announcement around the Google TV platform, which has struggled to win the support of broadcasters, some of whom have cited security concerns (as well as issues about the Google business model). On the security issue, Steenkamp said: “It’s clear to me that with these types of ecosphere being created, security systems can be found [that provide] the robustness requirements for premium content on these platforms.”

Separately, US DTH pay TV provider Dish Network has begun offering the Logitech Revue to its subscribers for a special price of US$179 (€130), compared with the recommended retail price of US$299. Dish is also offering its own Google TV solution with DVR integration on top of the purchase of the Logitech box for an additional US$4 a month.

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