Cloning protection scheme for a digital information playback device

摘要

A method and apparatus for cloning protection of a player. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing cloning protection of a software digital information playback device by using an activation procedure prior to use of the playback device. In one embodiment, the playback device is deactivated in order to move the playback device to a different computer system or to otherwise vary the operating conditions of the playback device. To activate the playback device a unique identifier is generated by the playback device. The identifier is communicated to a server and linked to the playback device generating the identifier. In one embodiment, the identifier and a digital signature authenticating the information from the server are communicated to the playback device along with any digital programming. Only digital programming including the identifier and the signature are played by the playback device.